Federal plans more Saffires
Tasmania’s Federal Group is to unveil plans for a new luxury hotel following the success of its $1800-plus-a-night East Coast resort Saffire that is running at over 80 per cent occupancy.
Federal Group spokesman Daniel Hanna said the success of Saffire had focused the company on the luxury end travel market, saying new venues would soon be revealed. The company’s new focus follows the recent sell-off of several mostly 3.5-star-rated properties to RACT.
Mr Hanna said the “secret project” would open before the company followed through with already announced plans for a sister property to Saffire at Port Arthur. “We see the best opportunity for growth for the state, in general, is at the luxury end,” Mr Hanna said.
He said the success of Saffire, where rooms cost as much as $2800 per night, showed people were willing to pay top dollar for a luxury experience.
Saffire general manager Justin King said the resort, near Coles Bay and the Freycinet National Park, had seen yearly growth, topped by a 35 per cent increase in business over the past 18 months.
