Mount Hutt cafe extended

Press, 10 March 1984, Page 25

Mount Hutt cafe extended

Mount Hutt’s cafeteria bigger for the 1984 ski-ing season. The Mount Hutt Company is spending $BOO,OOO on extensions to the ski-field’s base facilities to cope more comfortably with its customers. The 900 sq m extensions to the day lodge will increase the cafeteria’s seating from 90 to 240. New staff, accommodation will also be provided. The company’s chairman, Mr Peter -Yeoman, told visiting journalists at the field this week that the contractors were on schedule. The cafeteria extensions would be opened on June 20. Before then skiers would be served at the old cafeteria. The new staff quarters would be ready by July. The contractors had had no great problem with wind or cold temperatures, but a truck-driver who carted concrete slabs up the hill faced a two-hour haul from Ashburton. The Mount Hutt Company is spending $1 million for the 1964 ski season including

improvement of the access road and lift maintenance. Mr Yeoman said that the old cafeteria had been built in 1976 when lift tickets sales totalled 60,000. “With lift ticket sales last year of 163,000 it had grown

to be over-crowded, especially at the start of the season,” he said.

The new staff accommodation would house 14 persons, with room for offices and a staff recreation area. , The ski school had not r been expanded but the in-

structors would be able to use the old night staff quarters for relaxation.

Some tour companies were reporting a 40 per cent increase in bookings for Mount Hutt and a busy season was likely, Mr Yeoman said.