Southern Downs motel owners report costly booking cancellations with border closures, lockdowns in force

Many Southern Downs motel owners have reported spikes in booking cancellations with future bookings in doubt as the new Covid restrictions take effect across the country.

Many Southern Downs motel owners have reported a spike in booking cancellations with future bookings in doubt as the new border closures take effect. Photo: iStock

Southern Downs small business owners say they cannot continue to survive the fallout from border closures, lockdowns and Covid restrictions that wreak havoc on travel into the region.

Following the closure of the Queensland and New South Wales state border last month, many Southern Downs accommodation providers were again hit with a slew of booking cancellations and income losses.

The closure of Queensland and New South Wales state border has caused costly losses for accommodation providers. Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post

Vines Motel and Cottages owner Jaclyn Slack said the border closure would be detrimental to her business with two large tour groups cancelling their stay after the announcement.

“I’ve lost a third of my customer base because they’re not travelling and I don’t make that up, that doesn’t ever come back,” she said.

Mrs Slack said small businesses always do it tough when there are significant decisions affecting travel.

“The moral of the story is, lockdowns and border closures only affect small businesses, never big business,” Mrs Slack said.

Warwick Vines Motel owner Warren Trout said a group of New South Wales guests who booked for an upcoming racing tournament in town cancelled their stay, costing the business upwards of $7000.

“It’s already affected us and it’s going to continue to affect us, full stop,” he said.

Mr Trout said between 40 and 60 per cent of his guests are from New South Wales and expects more costly losses if future motorsport racing tournaments get cancelled because of Covid restrictions.

“It depends what happens with the borders. If they open up we will recoup losses and if they don’t it will only get worse,” he said.

Granite Belt Cabins owner Craig Gee said his business has had a number of cancellations from interstate guests which account for a quarter of their normal bookings. Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post

Granite Belt Cabins owner Craig Gee said following the border closures his business has had a number of cancellations from interstate guests, who account for a quarter of their normal bookings.

“It’s been a little slower, but hopefully it’s not too much of an implication. (However), based on past experiences the longer it goes on the worse it will get,” he said.