Varied Motel Standards

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30043, 30 January 1963, Page 13

Varied Motel Standards

“The Press" Special Service

WELLINGTON, Jan. 29.

Less than 10 years ago, the first motel made its appearance in New Zealand. There are now some 252 of them throughout the country, with wide variations in the standard of service provided and an equally-wide range of tariffs—sometimes unrelated to those standards. Rising costs in the post-war years have forced hotel tariffs up to a point where they are beyond the reach of most people for family holidays. Motels were established to fill the breach, but in many cases they, too, are being forced to keep charges high because of the capital investment involved.

Last August, toe New Zealand Motel Federation was formed, and invitations for membership circulated to all toe 252 motels. Some 101

replied, and of these only 70 complied with the basic standards laid down by toe federation and became eligible for membership. The secretary (Mr J. M. Andrew) said that the federation did not dictate tariffs, which were a matter entirely for the individual motelier to fix. Many of the most expensive motels were, in fact, outside the federation. Among the basic requirements of a motel, before it qualified for federation membership, were that it have a resident manager and that bed linen be provided without extra charge. That was to ensure that guests could arrive at any time and be able to go to bed immediately, just as in a hotel. Many applications for membership have been rejected where standards of management fall short. In one case, for instance, the proprietor

of a top-grade motel provided beer parties for his guests lasting until toe early hours.

One reason for the seemingly high motel tariffs was the short holiday season when both New Zealand holiday-makers and tourists had to be catered for, Mr Andrew said. Staggered holidays would ease the situation. Many people also helped to exaggerate the accommodation shortage in the holiday season by booking into a motel for a week and then not remaining for the full period, that way being cheaper than paying daily tariffs. That left a great deal of unused accommodation ait times of peak demand. Unless a motelier achieved 66 per cent, occupancy ot his motel throughout the year he could not get a return for his capital investment, Mr Andrew said. Each bed in a motel cost up to £5O and, in addition, electric ranges, refrigerators, and a full range of facilities had to be provided for each unit. Mr Andrew said that very few motels had been putting their prices up recently.