Joe Hockey's budget debut brings Canberra tourism bonus
Diplomat Hotel general manager Rowland Fischer at the hotel in Griffith, the hotel is fully booked for Budget night
Amid the expected gloom of Tuesday’s budget – from public service cuts, deficit levies and a first-in-a-decade rise in fuel excise – Canberra’s hoteliers will grasp the silver lining of bumper visitor numbers.
Whether for good or bad, strong interest in Treasurer Joe Hockey’s first night of nights is set to provide a direct financial injection to the hospitality industry.
Australian Hotels Association ACT general manager Brad Watts said the sector had geared up for a budget bonanza as industry heads, lobbyists and politicians returned to town.
“Traditionally, federal budget week is one of the busiest times of the year for accommodation hotels and licensed venues across the ACT – this year many hotels are booked solid for most of the week,” he said.
“This is a welcome boost after a challenging 12 months for Canberra’s hospitality sector.”
However, Mr Watts said there was growing confidence in the sector, especially with major new investment in properties at the market’s top end.
“Hotel room occupancy levels have gradually risen to an average of around 70 per cent between February and April 2014, according to an industry-wide AHA ACT survey,'' he said.
The Diplomat in Griffith is poised to enjoy the budget. It has been fully booked for Tuesday night for nearly a month and general manager Rowland Fischer said the 67-room boutique hotel had cashed in on this year’s travellers.
“You’re able to charge a higher rate – 10-20 per cent higher for a budget night room,” Mr Fischer said.
“With the outgoing party last year no one felt the budget was going to stick anyway, this year the budget has a lot more interest in it.”
He tipped a strong crowd at the hotel bar by 10pm as people celebrated or drowned their sorrows.
Kingston Hotel manager Emma Wight said the budget would be shown on TVs throughout the famous watering hole – with some left on sport for those interested in simpler numbers – but MPs were more likely to visit in the nights after the speech.
“Whenever parliament sits we usually get a lot of politicians through, but traditionally budget night they’re still working, then Wednesday and Thursday night they often come out,” she said.
Budget events will continue on Wednesday with the Canberra Business Council breakfast at Parliament House’s Great Hall, with guests at the sold-out gathering paying $80 a ticket.
A few hours later the National Press Club will use the same venue to host Joe Hockey’s post-budget luncheon address, with about 600 people expected.
