Mackay moteliers receive welcome boost in bookings
But the rise in accommodation bookings is not because of the school holidays that kick off today
Business
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MACKAY moteliers says accommodation bookings have picked up since the “drastic” slump earlier this year from COVID-19.
Mackay Motor Inn owner Peter Molloy said his bookings were “strong” with about 60 to 70 per cent occupancy.
“We are just a little bit under what we were (at the same time) last year,” Mr Molloy said.
But he explained this was because people and families were travelling for sport, particularly junior league, carnivals and soccer.
“I got quite a few out of the cycling event this weekend,” he said.
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The business was a welcome boost after missing out on the usual “southerners” clientele over winter because of coronavirus restrictions, he said.
“We died for the first month of (COVID),” Mr Molloy said.
“We were down to 20 per cent occupancy rate.”
He said he was now looking forward to the borders reopening so he could attract more business.
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Likewise, Galaxy Mackay Motor Inn manager Trish Brown said sport, especially basketball, had helped with their occupancy rate as well as the mining sector.
“We’ve been pretty lucky with COVID,” Ms Brown said.
“When we first went into lockdown, for a while that was pretty drastic.”
Ms Brown added the new ring road had actually been a welcome addition and had not deterred any customers from their Nebo Rd business.
“It’s quieter, definitely at night time,” she said.
“When the next stage is done, it’ll be better still.”
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