08 Jul 2022
Words Russell Rogers Informer 103

State Member Organisations Critical For Motel Owners

The time has come where we need to see established individual state associations for this valuable, and growing part of the industry.

We can then also establish an Australian Online Travel Agent (OTA) that can see moteliers paying a fair percentage - estimated to be 2.5 per cent - instead of the 15-20 per cent many moteliers currently face.

The industry can also work to address, as a group, issues such as Airbnb competition, annual operating cost increases, and staff shortages, as well as form buying groups.

Industry sources are saying we are losing around $1 billion per year from our overall hospitality industry earnings to overseas OTAs. 

ResortBrokers has been not only been selling motels for 37 years, but we also always looking for ways to help the hospitality industry prosper as a whole. 

After talking to many moteliers all around Australia, we urgently need a voice in each state which works with a national body for our industry.

Each state has different needs, as recent issues surrounding bushfires, floods and COVID have proven.

With a state-based motel organisation, issues can be dealt with at state level with specific rules to suit prevailing conditions. 

There needs to be a group in each state for small players as well as the bigger operators, in the same manner as there is for the Caravan Park and Camping industry.

I have been a member of the Caravan and Camping Association for a couple of years and am in awe of how organised and cohesive it is. They send constant emails and communication on all issues and its employees are readily available to help members personally with advice and direction.

They hold regular state and regional meetings to stay on top of all issues affecting their industry.

The only national motel associations we have now are Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) and the Accommodation Association of Australia (AAOA). 

I firmly believe by forming associations in each state, with an affiliated national association, we can achieve amazing things as a group.

All we really need to get the wheels in motion is a couple of moteliers in each state to register their interest with myself at russell@resortbrokers.com.au

Once we have a couple of representatives in each state, hopefully we can move forward and make things happen for our wonderful motel industry.