NSW vouchers huge win for resilient industry
Calls for Federal Government to emulate state’s approach
Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) has welcomed the earlier than expected introduction of the latest round of Parents NSW and Stay NSW as the type of stimulus that will allow the accommodation sector to recover and return to profitability.
Part of a further NSW government incentive to drive up business for the long-suffering sector, from February 1, customers will be able to redeem $250 worth of Parents NSW vouchers and $50 Stay NSW voucher with registered hotels, motels, and other accommodation providers through the state.
Welcoming the news as a much-needed boost, TAA CEO, Michael Johnson said the program is a huge win for the accommodation sector which is struggling with low occupancy rates and forward bookings.
“We have been speaking with the government about the need for more support and they have listened,” he said.
“These vouchers will boost visitor economies in the regions, which saw a slight uplift in business over the holiday period, and in the city, where hotels have been struggling to survive without tourists and business travellers.
“These vouchers will come at the perfect time for many people who had their holiday plans postponed by the Omicron wave and are still keen for a getaway or weekend staycation in one of our excellent accommodation hotels.
“We are a resilient industry and it is these types of government stimulus that will allow us to recover and return to profitability.”
The Accommodation Association (AA) has also thanked the NSW Government for continuing to listen to the sector and echoed the call for parallel Federal Government support for Australia’s hard-hit accommodation sector.
But while thanking the NSW Government for providing the much-needed support, AA CEO, Richard Munro has called for more action from the Federal Government to support the industry now bearing a double financial burden stemming from reduced consumer confidence and the Omicron induced hotel workforce wipe-out.
“Right now, our members are stuck between a rock and a hard place, Mr Munro said.
“Ongoing staffing issues and a lack of consumer confidence in travel means the AA is calling on the Federal Government to acknowledge that they too must do their part to support the businesses that support so much of our country, from staff and their families to regional destinations, hospitality businesses to suppliers and drivers.”
“The accommodation industry understand this pandemic is far from over, so we’ve done our part to help mitigate the impact on everyone where we can through hotel quarantine and recruitment schemes.
“Support from the NSW Government helps us keep our doors open to keep employing, educating and engaging with the people of NSW in every community across the state.
“Given the complexity and duration of the many issues that have knocked so many of our hotels for six and which will continue to do so for some time, we also hope the Federal Government will acknowledge the significance of the ongoing combination of dented consumer confidence, massive skills and workforce shortages, and the lack of international visitors and provide ongoing support.”
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
And yet VICTORIA is still waiting for previously promised vouchers.
It looks like NSW have a model not unlike SA where the properties register and as such reservations for the vouchers are in effect commission-free and ultimately “BOOK DIRECT”
Come on Dan!