CITY ROLLS OUT REV CARPET
HOTELS are already rolling out “no vacancy” signs 10 days out from the V8 Supercars rolling in for the Townsville 400. Bookings from interstate and statewide are set to provide a welcome economic boost for the city. Each guest is predicted to inject $ 258 into the local economy for each day of their visit and initiatives are in place to encourage tourists to stay longer.
ACCOMMODATION houses across Townsville are rolling out the no vacancy signs, 10 days out from the city’s V8 Supercars event.
Solid bookings from interstate and within Queensland are set to provide a welcome economic boost for the city.
Each guest is predicted to inject $ 258 into the local economy each day of their visit and initiatives are in place to encourage tourists to stay longer and explore the region.
Diehard fans from as far away as Tasmania have secured rooms ahead of the July 10- 12 event, with many hotels and motels fully booked.
Best Western Islington Apartments manager Debbie Matthews said they had been booked out for several weeks, and were still fielding calls.
“All 95 rooms are fully booked,” she said. “They are coming from all over the state,
They are coming from all over the country CLUDEN PARK MOTOR INN’S ANGE HUTTON
and from interstate. Some of the bookings are for regulars who come every year and we also have a lot of the workers.”
Aquarius on the Beach manager Tony Dolan said they had one or two rooms “up our sleeve” but were otherwise “choc- a- block”.
“There are a few from Victoria. Some are repeat customers but there are a lot of newbies,” he said.
Cluden Park Motor Inn reservations officer Ange Hutton said they would also be full for the V8 weekend.
“They are coming from all over the country,” she said. “We even have a couple coming up from Tassie.” The Colonial Rose Motel
still has a few vacancies but owner David Hannah said they would not last long.
Rydges Southbank reservations and revenue manager Michelle Diehm said they also had a few vacancies left.
“We aren’t full but we are close,” she said. “There are quite a few groups coming up from down south.”
Townsville’s new “up- market” backpackers, Rambutan, is also reporting solid bookings for its larger rooms but still has dorm room vacancies.
Townsville City Council planning and development committee chairman Tony Parsons said the key was to get visitors up for the event and exploring the region.
“It is great to hear a lot of places are already fully booked ... the feedback is that ticket sales are also going well,” Mr Parsons said.
“It is a busy time generally, with the winter school holidays, events like the triathlon, so getting visitors to stay a few extra nights to experience the region is a focus.”
TEL tourism and events executive manager Bridget Woods said they had also received promising feedback from the tourism sector.
“There are good reports across all of the price points from budget backpackers to four- star hotels,” she said.
“We’re also generally finding that people are also looking beyond the V8s and are keen to try other experiences while they are here.”
TEL, in partnership with the Townsville Airport, will also be increasing the size of its “welcome crew”.
For the first time, visitors attending the V8s will also be greeted at the airport.
“This is a great opportunity to show people what Townsville has on offer and hopefully that will entice them to come back again, and bring the family,” Ms Woods said.