Most accommodation in the resort at present (approximately 650 beds) are within club lodges. A small number of commercial beds are also available.
Evidence over the past few years suggests that the number of people staying over night in the resort has increased.
The main reasons for this trend are likely to include the following:
It is interesting to note that while Club accommodation bookings decline in poor snow years, private self contained accommodation does not change - it is always in demand. It is evident that visitors come for the “experience”, privacy and reconnection with family and friends (snow is not always necessary).
The growth in Green Season visitation has increased a demand for high quality accommodation.
The demand for en-suited, private accommodation cannot currently be met.
The general public’s access to club accommodation is limited, but most clubs use the services of the Accommodation Booking Service which offers cleaning / linen and lodge opeing and closing services.
The majority of the mountain’s clubs list their beds with the resort’s Central Reservations Service, but only after members have made their bookings . The reservation system offers prospective visitors with information and booking options to meet visitor needs and budget.
Management encourages Lodges to sacrifice beds in Lodge renovations to include en-suited rooms.
The Hotel has been refurbished in the past two years and there is strong demand for public use. They are small however and not conducive for family use.
The Small Family Cabins (constructed in 2004) attract strong public demand.
The Resort’s CEO Duplex cannot meet the demand for VIP and media use.
Evidence from other resorts and the tourism sector in general, suggest that visitors’ accommodation expectations have changed markedly in recent decades.
A number of Lodges are in need of refurbishment to increase their standard and level of use. Others are in a poor state of repair and may be better redeveloped. Refurbishment and redevelopment plans will need to have regard to changing visitor expectations and is an opportunity to diversify the range of accommodation on the mountain.
A number of lodges have indicated that with the opening/closing and cleaning/linen service (user pay) that they are willing to release beds to the Central Reservations Service (all year).
Lodges and the Cascade apartments have indicated that there is the need to access emergency repairs/stores to enable reliability and customer satisfaction. This has now been implemented
The CEO has recently engaged in a “management to individual lodge” consultation process, to discuss increases in site fees; implications of fire regulations; power connection matters; and the financial and strategic imperatives of the Resort.
The CEO also requested all clubs to provide the Board with feedback on their intentions relating to:
It is reasonable to say that most Clubs understand that their approach needs to become more ‘commercially responsive’ or they will not be able to survive. Most, (anecdotally) want to survive.
The resort has also trialled the introduction of “Family Lodges” as another means of broadening accommodation options. The trial of the Family Lodges 2005-2007 seasons has revealed strong demand, achieving high levels of use and financial yield. One has since been sold and continues to gain a good return on investment. It is planned that the remaining Lodge will be sold in the near future.
There have been firm enquiries from parties who wish to:
All have been advised of the requirements of the Board for site development, those being:
A Planning Permit has been sought and obtained, following the Geo Tech assessment of the second stage of the Family Lodges on Tingaringy Crescent.
A Geo Tech study that has been completed on that part of the proposed development, has found no impediment to this proposed development.
Further real estate development is now planned for Lots 4, 5, 7 & 18
All of the required design and planning requirements have been completed and is now open for developer interest.
A Business Case relating the development of the Family Lodges has been developed over considerable time, demonstrating their potential for success.
It is important that any development be staged, to prevent “flooding of the market” and to retain market demand, as well as ensuring that the process is orderly and well planned.
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