Fuel crisis blamed for cancellations

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33433, 15 January 1974, Page 2

Fuel crisis blamed for cancellations

GVfu’ Zealand Press Association)

ASHBURTON, January 14.

The accommodation booked at the Hotel Ashburton by the Commonwealth Games Committee two years ago had been cancelled because a number of overseas tourist companies had over-estimated the number of people attending the Games, the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Accommodation Committee (Mr D. L. Hogan) said today.

Apologising for the cancellation, Mr Hogan said bookings had failed to materialise, largely because of uncertainty about jet flights during the fuel shortage. However, he said, there was no room for concern about the effect on the Games. The people not coming would number hundreds rather than thousands, and there would be no loss, as those concerned had not booked seats.

Mr Hogan said it was logical that bookings should be cancelled at a hotel away from Christchurch rather than in the city itself. Two years ago the hotel had been ‘turned over” to the Games organisers for visitors’ accommodation, said th- manager of the hotel (Mr W. J Randle). He said he [felt badly let down.

Unless he could fill the hotel with other guests the Ashburton Licensing Trust stood to lose about SIO,OOO.

The Hotel Ashburton provided some of the best accommodation and facilities in the area, and it was a pity that the cancellation had to be made, said Mr Hogan. Expressing a wish that Mr Randle would be able to fill the hotel with other guests, he said the situation had been beyond the control of the Games organisers. Up to 15 per cent of motel accommodation booked for the Games had been cancelled, said Mr Hogan. Up to 10 per cent of motel booking had been subject to alterations.

“The situation is disconcerting for moteliers, but 1 think they appreciate that with such a large influx of people the situation is inevitable.” He - agreed, however, that the percentage of cancellations and alterations was higher than his committee had expected, and was causing a lot of work. The committee had asked moteliers to try to fill the vacancies themselves, but

would do the best it could to find booking replacements. The president of the Christchurch Moteliers’ Association (Mr T. Challis) said moteliers were “pretty upset” about the situation. “They handed over this accommodation for allocation two vears ago.” said Mr Challis. He added that tourists

were by-passing Christchurch because they believed there ; was a shortage of accommo- ‘ dation during the Games. He estimated that a third of the motel units belonging ■ to the 60 members of his or- ' ganisation were vacant. ; “We are not getting many \ holidaymakers at all,” he ’ said.