22 May 2020
Words The Hotel Conversation

ResortBrokers marks 35 year milestone as recent sales hit $70m since March

Industry legend Ian Crooks was driving the second hand car and making very quick and expensive phone calls to get the business up and running in 1985, turning it into Australia’s longest established and most experienced specialist agency operating in the accommodation and hospitality sector.

Crooks, now the Chairman of ResortBrokers, has built a proudly family-run business with a “second generation” taking over the operations in the past decade as directors of the company.

Ian Crooks was joined by son Tim from the real estate sector in 2009. In 2011, daughter Carla, a marketing and graphic design specialist, and husband Alex Cook - a commercial broker – also joined on return from the UK.

The regeneration, and new generation, was complete later the same year when daughter Trudy also joined after a stint in London as manager of Foxton’s prestigious Mayfair office. She’s now Managing Director.

Despite travel bans and restrictions in place around the country, ResortBrokers is reporting high enquiry levels on the back of more than $70 million in settlements since COVID-19 forced Australia into partial lockdown.

“We are still seeing buyers with strong balance sheets looking for good opportunities that complement their existing portfolios and this started happening in early March when the crisis in Australia really began,” said Trudy Crooks.

Among the notable sales is the Moama on Murray Freehold Resort, Rumba Beach Resort at Caloundra, Chester & Ella at Newstead in Brisbane and two Quest franchises at Liverpool in south western Sydney and Griffith.

“Why are deals still being done during coronavirus? Sophisticated buyers understand that good properties will always hold their value and they will remain desirable when people can move again,” Ian Crooks said.

“Having been at the forefront of the accommodation industry for 35 years, we have seen and weathered many turbulent times. We know we’ll get through this together. Please do not hesitate to call any of our brokers, even if you just want a chat.”

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Read the full article here: 
https://www.thehotelconversation.com.au/profiles/2020/05/18/resortbrokers-marks-35-year-milestone-recent-sales-hit-70m-march/1589783824?fbclid=IwAR2HI3OcdQ-j5ms80D9TIzKkipBRAp1qzBDv8od0CQkiQuusm1DELBq8Xjs