‘Locals were definitely out and about spending and consuming a lot in the hospitality space’: Hospitality boss praises wet season trading

THE COVID-19 pandemic has delivered an unexpected windfall for many NT businesses thanks to Territorians opting to spend the festive season holidays at home

THE COVID-19 pandemic has delivered an unexpected windfall for many Northern Territory businesses thanks to safety conscious Territorians opting to spend the festive season holidays at home.

The Territory’s peak bodies have all reported better-than-normal wet season business profits.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce told the NT News some food and beverage venues were reporting a roaring trade compared to a normal wet season.

“I’m talking about pubs, clubs and cafes that were 20 to 30 per cent up on what they would normally do at this time of the year,” Mr Bruce said.

“Even the rural venues have reported solid trading.

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“Locals were definitely out and about spending and consuming a lot in the hospitality space and that continued right up through into January. “

However, Mr Bruce said with children returning to school and mums and dads back at work, business had started to taper off.

“February has always been our toughest month with people back at work and the kids back in school,” he said.

Mr Bruce cautioned against suggestions that the Northern Territory hotel accommodation sector was booming.

“While some accommodation houses are doing quite well, there are some that have still not opened because the booking numbers are still not there, so it would be wrong to suggest they are booming … it is not the reality,” he said.

“It is mixed. Some are doing very well because of the stimulus vouchers, but those that normally get the corporates and business travellers are not seeing the numbers.”

Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley said a lot of businesses that would have normally closed stayed open because of the demand from local travellers.

“For quite a few operators, there were more interstate visitors as well here than what would normally happen in a wet season,” he said.

“They were not here in massive amounts, but the numbers were up on what would be expected in a normal year.

Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley said many businesses stayed open this wet season. Picture: Che Chorley

“It was definitely a better January and the feedback from holiday-makers has been good. A lot of businesses have done really well with all the stimulus voucher projects being taken advantage of by locals who didn’t go away.

“It kept jobs going and businesses in play that normally would not have been this time of the year.”

Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive Greg Ireland said he also had reports of good trading figures for local businesses. “Retailers have told me they have had their best months ever during this period,” he said.

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“This is across the board in the hospitality and leisure areas.

“I think there were a lot of people spending time doing things they would not normally do.

“I did my part topping up on my fishing pieces, and even when going out with our visitors, we noticed how busy venues were.

“I myself experienced the same thing with some family coming up.

“Also people (talked) about the fact that it was difficult to get a car park in the CBD during that time, when historically you could pretty much park where you liked.”