Rich Lister Andrew Cox still owes Gold Coast tourism operators despite loan from Qld Government

It has emerged a Kiwi Rich Lister who owes Gold Coast tour operators tens of thousands of dollars still hasn’t paid up despite getting a loan from the State Government.

A KIWI Rich Lister’s company still owes Gold Coast tourism operators tens of thousands despite receiving a Queensland Government loan to help it through the COVID-19 crisis.

Website Travel, an adventure tourism marketplace, connects adventure tourism agents (resellers) such as Peterpans Adventure Travel with operators.

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Last month Website Travel told operators it was suspending payments to agents, operators, suppliers and customers until it raises $12 million because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Imperium Group’s Andrew Cox.

The company set an early May deadline for payment but operators says they still have not been paid for work prior to the industry shutdown.

Former Melbourne Rebels owner Andrew Cox’s Imperium Group owns luxury Queenstown resorts and runs Website Travel.

GOLD COAST TOURISM OPERATORS CLAIM KIWI MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HAS LEFT THEM OUT OF POCKET

It has now emerged Imperium company Adventium, part of Imperium and owner of Website Travel, has been granted a substantial Queensland Government loan.

The COVID-19 Jobs Support Loans from the Queensland Government is a $1 billion scheme providing up to $250,000 for businesses to retain employees and maintain operations. An Adventium spokesman confirmed: “It has received a loan under the QRIDA COVID-19 Jobs Support loan scheme for impacted businesses that all tourism operators were able to apply for. A fixed interest rate of 2.5 per cent per annum applies to loans over the term except for the first year.”

Website Travel connects adventure tourism agents with operators. Picture: iStock

The spokesman said the company would not be providing a “running commentary” on its plans to raise $12 million stating it hoped to provide an update “in the coming weeks”.

Byron Bay Dive Centre’s Perry Bartholomew, owed $12,000 for work completed in January and February, slammed Website Travel for obtaining the loan and still not paying operators.

“It is pretty poor. We are a small operator reliant on cashflow and obviously it is a multinational company.”

He said his business received “quite a few” bookings from Website Travel and its partners prior to the industry shutdown.

“They have already got their commission … the operator which has to actually run the tour has nothing.”

Adventure tourism operators on the Gold Coast have been left out of pocket during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: iStock

Gold Coast’s Australian Kayaking Adventures boss Steven Vah, who has worked with Website Travel for 12 years and is owed $4000, said he had not received a cent.

“We haven’t heard from them since (the April 15 letter),” he said. “It is a bit disappointing especially now. It has been a while and also we’re all going through COVID-19.”

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said: “We expect Mr Cox to pay any money due to businesses that may be out of pocket for work they’ve already done. Our priority is to support tourism operators who have been hit hard on the ground because of travel restrictions,” she said.