Booking surge for Kalgoorlie and Esperance hotels

With COVID-19 uncertainty swirling, hotel bookings in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Esperance are surging as more people look to travel in regional WA, according to Choice Hotels.

Research by the hotel group showed 80 per cent of Australians now preferred road travel, with the number of people planning a short break increasing from 15 per cent in 2019 to 91 per cent last year.

Choice Hotels also said they had recorded a surge in bookings for four WA towns, including Kalgoorlie-Boulder where the Quality Inn Railway Motel is a member of the international accommodation group.

Railway Motel operations manager Kris Day said regional WA had not always been the “go-to” destination, but was now seen as an “escape” from the big cities.

“We’ve noticed a definite increase in road travel with Australians still wary to travel abroad and for West Australians it’s been the perfect time to explore their own doorstep,” he said.

“Kalgoorlie has been very isolated from the major lockdowns and COVID outbreaks, which helps as people escape the more populated and locked down areas closer to Perth.

“It’s full of friendly people and has a fantastic sense of community. It’s the perfect spot to get out of the city and enjoy some well needed R&R after the last few years.”

Mr Day said COVID-19 was having a tough impact on the hospitality industry, but told the Kalgoorlie Miner their loyal staff had kept the hotel running.

“It’s been a process, but we’re thankful to still have a good number of staff, many of whom have stayed with us since the beginning of the pandemic,” he said.

“In hospitality many staff are already casual due to the seasonality of the industry, so adjusting hours helped us to keep as many staff as we could — unfortunately some left, but we’re lucky many stayed in what’s been a tough time for the industry.”

The general manager of Esperance’s Comfort Inn Bay of Isles Jennifer Rider said booking trends in the coastal town were also changing, with road trips often more dependable than air travel.

“We’re noticing a lot of young couples and families on road trips, travelling for a change of scenery or simply for a short break to reset and recharge,” she said,

“We feel like they’re choosing to travel locally and by road because it’s something different and something they can depend on. If you drive to your destination, you don’t have to worry about missing flights, or getting to the airport and having your flight cancelled.”

Ms Rider said the motel had managed through COVID-19 with State Government works keeping their rooms in demand.

“The WA State Government ramped up a lot of works — including (on) main roads — that kept our motel pretty occupied for essential workers during the initial onset of the pandemic,” she said.

“Plus the addition of JobKeeper really helped enormously to keep us going and keep many of our staff employed.”

Ms Rider and Mr Day said the Goldfields-Esperance region was an essential region for all West Australians to explore.