Happy guests pair's focus
IT may not be a phoenix but the new owners of East Bundaberg Backpacker Hostel hope their business can rise from the ashes of a ruined reputation.
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IT may not be a phoenix but the new owners of East Bundaberg Backpacker Hostel hope their business can rise from the ashes of a ruined reputation.
Jimmy and Stacey Koktas bought the disgraced hostel in April and say they have a long way to go to repair the damage done by the former managers.
“We’re going to lift it back up and repair the reputation,” Mr Koktas said.
“We have already started renovations and repairs inside and out.”
The couple, from Shepparton, Victoria, said backpackers had already started to notice the improvements.
“We have been getting some pretty positive feedback from the people staying with us,” Mr Koktas said.
In March, the NewsMail reported the managers of the hostel, who also operated a contracting business, treated backpackers like “slaves”, did not pay them correctly, verbally abused them and threatened them.
“This reputation has left us with a bit of a challenge,” Mr Koktas said.
“We just want to do the right thing by people.”
The changes the owners have made include having cleaners available at all times, fixing buses, painting the inside of the hostel and plenty of maintenance.
The pair has also reduced the number of beds from 92 to 78 to make the living arrangements more comfortable for travellers.
“We’re just doing the things we want to do to make everything right for the rules and regulations, and to be clean and safe,” Mr Koktas said.
“We run it in a completely different way and have our own systems.”
Backpackers can also pay as they stay rather than paying upfront, which was the old system.
The owners also help backpackers to find work in the region but say they will not be involved with pays or contracting like the old managers.
“All pays go directly from the employer to the employee,” Mr Koktas said.
“We just want our guests to be happy.”
Originally published as Happy guests pair's focus
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