TOURIST HOTELS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 111, 12 May 1926, Page 13

TOURIST HOTELS.

WHAT ABOUT A CHAIN? ] i FAVOURABLE RESULTS ABROAD. (By G. M. FOWLDS.) In view of the prospective development of the tourist traffic to the Dominion and the frequent complaint about the lack of both the quantity and, for a certain class, the quality of our accomodation, there is an opening for a programme of expansion in this direction. the standard of accommodation now offered at fairly reasonable rates is quite satisfactory for local people and many, visitors, there is no doubt that travellers ■who are used to the facilities provided in America and on the Continent, and are willing to pay for them, would bej glad to see some improvement. The special features that are particularly required in up-to-date hotels are hot and cold water laid on to basins in bedrooms; a proportion of rooms with baths and lavatories attached; a system of internal heating in those districts where required, and adequate lounge, dicing room and dance room accommodation. The construction of new hotels has not kept pace with the growth of the Dominion and the expansion in other kinds of buildings. What is wanted is either the co-operation of a number of hotel proprietors in a Dominion chain, or the formation of a syndicate to construct a string of new hotels in the chief ports and at the leading tourist centres. The development of the hotel business alone chain lines has been quite a feature in America during tlie past few years. The advantages are that tourists know when to expect a uniform standard of comfort and service, and tho buying of supplies in bulk, which reduces overhead charges and costs. Then again each hotel assists the other in passing on visitors from town to town, and this helps to keep up the turnover. In Canada, the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian National Railways have chains of hotels across the continent. For the fair name of our country, and in order to compete with the rest of the world for an increase in the stream of tourists, New Zealand must erect and equip a chain of modern hotels. Here is a splendid opportunity for progressive men to promote either separate companies or a Dominion syn-j dicate to finance this new proposition. Places Where Hotels are Required. Cost. NORTH ISLAND. Russell—Northern centre for deepsea fishing £15,000 Whaagarei—Boat and rail point for Kamo Springs and the North £20,000 Auckland —Point of arrival and departure for the Thermal district and the North £160,000 Hamilton—Junction for Ancklana-Rotorua-Main Trunk, and Raglan £30,000 Te Knltl —On route to Waitomo Caves and Awakino-Taranaki . . £20,000 Waitomo —The three Waitomo Caves (Government property).. £40,000 Te Aroha —Hot Springs, etc £20,000 Tauranga—Centre for deep-sea fishing and Bay of Plenty £15,000 Eotorua—Centre of thermal district £30,000 HelensvOle—Hot Springs, two hours from Auckland) £30,000 Gisborne—Stopping point from Waikare-Moana and Motu-Napier £30,000 Napier—Stopping point from Wal-kare-Moana and Taupo-Rotorua £40,000 New Plymouth—Stopping point for Te Kuitl-Awakino and Mount Egmont trip £30,000 Taumarnnui—Route of Wanganui River trip £20,000 Tongariro—National Park, centre of mountaineering district; right to build to be leased £20,000 Tanpo—Thermal district and Ashing centre £13,000 Palmerston North—Railway centre £20,000 Wellington—Point of arrival and departure of oversea and lnterIsfand visitors £150,000 SOUTH ISL-AhT). Christchurch—Point for Mount Cook-West Coast, and Kalkoura | routes aso.ooo Dunedin—Centre for cold lake* " and West Coast Sounds £126,000 Invercargill—Centre for cold lakes. West Coast Sounds, and Stewart _ Island £25,000 Te Anau—On route of MRXord Sound and lakes £15,000 Queenstown—Chief centre for Southern lakes £30,000 Picton—Stopping point for Chrlstchurch and Nelson routes £20,000 fcelson—Stopping point on PlctonWest Coast drive £20,000 Westport—Stopping point on Nel-son-Hokftika route, Buller C-orge £20,000 Hokitika—Stopping point on Christchurch-Buller Corge and Franz Joseph Glacier £20,000 T °tal £070,000