'Complete washout' : Shock change to Gold Coast Schoolies
Gold Coast Schoolies is being dubbed “a complete washout” by the nation’s peak accommodation body as the COVID-19 bloodletting continues.
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GOLD Coast Schoolies is being dubbed “a complete washout” by the nation’s peak accommodation body after a rash of cancellations after its official axing in August.
Accommodation Association of Australia CEO Dean Long said the cancellation rate in Surfers Paradise for Schoolies sits at 99 per cent after “a waterfall” of scrapped bookings the past two months.
Traditionally from November 28 onwards, rooms on the Gold Coast would be in high demand as Surfers Paradise transforms into party central for 30,000 high school graduates.
However due to COVID-19 concerns no organised activities such as the famous beach parties or State Government safety response will be going ahead.
Hotel sites usually booked out are still listing hundreds of vacancies, with Airbnb listing 300-plus rooms free for the first weekend alone.
Mr Long said he believed parents got the final say when it came to where schoolies ended up after the State Government called it quits on the official celebration.
The Gold Coast cancellations follows reports of schoolies booking en masse at the Sunshine Coast.
“We have identified a major drop in schoolies bookings, it has been a complete washout,” Mr Long said. “Early on it looked like it was at around three per cent but over the last few weeks it has dropped away.
“What we are seeing is instead that the school leavers are booking closer to home. It isn’t good for the hotels that have been prepping for this all year. We expect just around one per cent of schoolies still to arrive.”
Beachcomber resort in Surfers Paradise, usually fully booked out by Schoolies.com, is offering rooms to the general public.
“We are usually totally booked by schoolies but it just isn't happening this year so we are treating it like normal,” a staffer said.
An operator who usually rents out motorised scooters and electric bikes said they were expecting a downturn.
“We rent out thirty scooters a day during schoolies, it is our busiest season but we don’t know what to expect this time around,” they said.
Infinity, a popular attraction for school leavers is also feeling out its schoolies response this year.
“We’re treating it just like a school holiday at this stage, we still have schoolies specials but no one knows just how many will really turn up,” the staff member said.
“We have some staff on standby but that is about it.”
TOM TATE CALLS ON GRADS TO STAY AWAY AFTER SCHOOLIES IS AXED
Police are still preparing for crowds, warning against large gatherings and illegal beach parties. It would have been the first year a majority of the Queensland-based school-leavers were of legal drinking age.
“(It’s) really important young people coming here ensure group gatherings are appropriate. That they have their social distancing happening,” Gold Coast police Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said.
“What we will be asking parents and guardians to do is to speak to their young person and have a think about what that means for them if they come to the Gold Coast … and what their celebrations might look like, because it will be different to any other year.”
Supt Wheeler said extra police were being sent to the Coast from other parts of the state to patrol beaches and parklands.
He warned people against drinking in public as was often seen on Burleigh Hill.
“Number one it’s illegal and number two it takes away the enjoyment of that area for other people,” he said.
“They don’t want to be sitting there watching people getting intoxicated, behaving inappropriately, and really importantly leaving a mess and that’s what we see from time to time, and there are penalties for that.
“So we’ll continue policing the parklands, the open spaces and if necessary if we see people out holding their own beach parties we’ll certainly intervene.”
The Bulletin understands organisers will be meeting with the State Government to hash out the official response to the celebrations on the Gold Coast this week.
Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan said: “I’m glad they are not coming with no assistance this year. I don’t know 5000 schoolies are going to do in Noosa - Noosa is a small place.”
IN SEPTEMBER: School leavers cry foul over lost deposits seeking refund after covid-19 cancellations
More than 700 disgruntled school leavers who believe they have been ripped off by booking provider Schoolies.com have signed a petition to get their deposit fees back.
Earlier this week it was revealed that the provider would not be returning deposits of $150 to students who were still able to get to their accommodation, despite the celebrations being called off by the Premier.
The news comes as the Queensland Office of Fair Trade warns Queensland Schoolies were unlikely to be automatically entitled to a refund from event provider Schoolies.com.
Founder of the Change.org petition, Year 12 student Joel Burgess from the Sunshine Coast, said he couldn’t believe they were being forced to lose out for something they can’t control.
“My friends and I booked Schoolies back in November to December of 2019 and we paid a $150 deposit to secure our place,” he said.
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“Schoolies was meant to be a fun place to party so we added the $100 party pass. Now that the events have been cancelled we got the party pass removed, but can’t get our $150 deposit back as we can still check into the accommodation.
Schoolies.com has previously told the Bulletin those wanting to avoid the Gold Coast over the traditional celebration period can do so, and will have their $150 deposit as a voucher.
Mr Burgess said he didn’t intend to go to next year’s Schoolies. “The refusal of a refund for the initial deposit is totally unethical and unmoral (sic) for Schoolies to do as they have not met the promised standards and expectations that have been set for the annual providers,” he said.
“By offering a refund school leavers will be able to create more individualised holidays across Queensland supporting the local economy instead of the one location of Gold Coast which already will make revenue in 2021 and 2022 due to Schoolies already being able to be booked.”
EARLIER:
GUTTED school leavers who want to follow health advice and Mayor Tom Tate’s stay-away order say they can’t get back deposits to booking site Schoolies.com, because they can still technically check in.
Their gripes come as body corporates warn the annual rite-of-passage will return to “bad old days” of unit parties after the State Government pulled pin on official events.
Despite Cr Tate urging schoolies to stay away come November, accommodation portal Schoolies.com continues to take bookings and promote rooms at that time.
Last week, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk canned Schoolies on the Glitter Strip, deeming it “high risk” in a pandemic, but locals fear axing official activities like beach parties won’t keep large groups away.
Hundreds of schoolies are venting in online forums about Schoolies.com failing to refund $150 deposits. Under terms and conditions, Schoolies.com says bookings remain current, and those who cancel over COVID concerns but can still get to their accommodation will have the deposit as a credit voucher.
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Schoolies.com CEO Matt Lloyd did not respond directly to questions. Instead he repeated a statement first made last Friday. “We are in conversation with local tour and attraction operators to provide deals to entertain this year’s graduates in a way that is safe and in line with advice of Government and Health officials”
It adds Schoolies occurs wherever youth travel to mark it and it is not controlled by any one group. Schoolies.com accommodation partners were working on COVID-safe plans including “staggered check-in” while Schoolies.com was investing in ensuring photo ID for all attendees, a 24-hour help line and extra security patrols, Mr Lloyd’s statement said.
COMMENT: NO SCHOOLIES? I WOULDN’T BE SO SURE ABOUT THAT
But Aquinas College student Iain Matthews wants to cancel because he doesn’t see a point in paying extra for events that won’t take place.
He had requested his deposit back but has had no reply. “It stresses me out since the due date for payment is close and I’m trying to find a way to get my money back,” he said.
“The point of Schoolies is the fun and now these events are cancelled it ruins that.”
Helensvale State High student Lachie Artz also said he was frustrated by the Schoolies.com refund policy.
“It is so frustrating, I messaged them months ago asking if we would get a refund if something like this would happen, they said only if ‘they’ cancel it. Even though government has cancelled, Schoolies.com says it is still on for them so we have no luck. It seems irresponsible, when State Government has said it isn’t the right thing to do.”
Property owners who use Schoolies.com as a booking agent said any kept deposits were unlikely to be passed on to the Gold Coast businesses.
“Our apartments have been fully booked for two weeks with over 100 people each week, but we never get paid by Schoolies.com until a week before check in,” a local operator said. “If they have collected deposits from 20,000 bookings they’ll have made over a million, while we get nothing.
“We’ve asked about deposits but got no answers, many small buildings are in the same situation and there is growing anger about how this is managed.”
Accommodation providers bracing for an influx of schoolies face $100,000 security fees.
Hilton Residences body corporate chair Alan Sparks said bookings were still being taken, and they needed to prepare.
“All of the large buildings are talking to one another, the biggest problem in our minds is school leavers will be here to celebrate, but with no events it will all be in their rooms.
“That leads us to the usual safety concerns around alcohol, overcrowding and damage – this thing is set up for disaster.
“We essentially will be going back to the days before the government support stepped in.”
Mr Sparks said schoolies’ safety was paramount to residents who already pay $100,000 for security: “It is not refunded by Schoolies.com who make a fortune from it. The responsibility seems to have landed on our laps, these are early adults who want to come and party, it will not be a quiet time for them.”
Originally published as 'Complete washout' : Shock change to Gold Coast Schoolies