Hermitage Did Not Impress Agent

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31047, 30 April 1966, Page 1

Hermitage Did Not Impress Agent

A senior London official of Thos. Cook and Son, travel agents, had been appalled by accommodation arrangements at the Hermitage, the South Island Publicity Association was told yesterday.

The chairman of the finance committee (Mr E. T. Beaven) said that an assistant traffic manager of the firm, Mr J. E. Shepherd, had been appalled at the shortage of beds and meal facilities for oneday visitors at the Hermitage. Mr Shepherd had heard a tirade of complaints from visitors who had to go back to Pukaki because they could not get accommodation at the Hermitage, Mr Beaven said.

He has also heard the receptionists repeatedly tell callers by telephone that there was no room in the dining-room for meals. Mr Beaven said Mr Shepherd would have left the Hermitage convinced that it was “quite hopeless writing any business for that place.” Mr Beaven urged immediate action to increase accommodation at the Hermitage so

that 1000 beds would be available in five years. “It is the key to the tourist attractions in this country, but there has been nothing done for two years to increase accommodation,” he said. “It is a bad show. People are forever being told: ‘No room at the inn.’ The major issue is to get on with the job.”