SALE MOTEL TO MAKE UPGRADES WITH FEDERAL SUPPORT
November 29, 2013
Sale’s Best Western Aspen Motor Inn will upgrade from a three-and-a-half star motel to a four-star motel with the support of $110,000 in Federal Government funds.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the motel owners, Craig and Marianne Caddy, had successfully applied for the funding through the T QUAL Grants—Tourism Quality Projects (TQP) Program.
Mr Chester said the Caddy’s would use the grant to install modern conveniences in all of the motels 24 rooms, making it the second four-star motel in Sale.
He said the Best Western Aspen Motor Inn had been recognised in the last two years as one of the best three-and-a-half star Best Western motels in Australasia as well receiving Wellington Tourism Awards and recognition via tourism website TripAdvisor.
“Craig and Marianne have been working on upgrading their accommodation facilities for visitors and corporate guests to Sale for over two years,” Mr Chester said.
“To be successful, tourism business operators had to show how they would use the funds to boost the industry at a local level and these upgrades will improve motel amenities for all guests.
“The tourism industry is vital to Gippsland and while government support remains important, local residents should also consider exploring our region at every opportunity.
“Every time we holiday locally we help to create jobs and strengthen the local economy.”
Mr Caddy said the improvements would include new lighting; carpets; drapes; furniture; bathroom upgrades and plastering works.
“We have been running the motel for almost six years and we’ve always believed it had further potential but it is an older building,” Mr Caddy said.
“We run at about 96 per cent occupancy during the working week so business is good, but we need to keep improving our amenities and overall our service.
“From January we’ll gut the rooms and then local tradesmen will start installing all of the new equipment for a scheduled finish around the end of March.”
Mr Chester said that Destination Gippsland would also receive $110,000 through the T QUAL Grants—Tourism Quality Projects (TQP) Program to develop an online travel booking system to meet the needs of domestic and international visitors to the region.