International excellence award goes to unique Warwick hotel

LOCAL couple reveal how harnessed the power of the internet to boost their popularity.

WE’RE SO HONOURED: The Loschers received the honour based on online reviews.

A WARWICK boutique hotel received the highest compliment from their customers with an excellence award based on their reviews.

53 on Victoria was honoured with a HotelsCombined recognition of excellence.

But despite the new accolade, owner John Loscher said it’s been business as usual.

“They just take people’s reviews from all the sites like Booking.com, Expedia and tally it up and see who had the best reviews,” he said.

“I guess it’s a really nice feeling to know customers care, but things won’t change, we work hard and focus on them, not the competition.”

Mr Loscher has operated the business with his wife Elizabeth for 13 years.

The couple used to operate the Mid-City Motor Inn but took over and redesigned 53 on Victoria after seeing a gap in the market.

“There’s not anything else like this in Warwick,” he said.

“There are locums, professionals and corporate business people who come to Warwick for longer than just an overnight stay and we felt there was a definite need here.”

With each self-contained suite individually designed by Mrs Loscher the apartments were made to give off a home away from home feel.

Quality and consistency of reviews were also taken into account as well as absence of recurring issues for the Hotel’s grading of 9.9 out of 10.

“I think it’s the personal touch that really makes this hotel what it is, so many places you’ll stay, punchy your code in the door and not really interact with anyone,” he said.

But like many businesses in the region, Mr Loscher said his wasn’t immune to the tough times the drought has bushfire season has brought on businesses.

“We’re not immune to that, the Cunninghams Gap was closed for about 24 days so we did miss a lot of traffic,” he said.

“But, overall, our biggest complaint is when people say they can't get back in again.”

Originally published as