HOTELS could fill their beds if they made the right investment. Hotel Bon Port co-owner Mark Galins said that the tourist industry was in a healthy state.
Several hotels in the island have applied for change of use because they claim there is no business. And a recent visitor and leisure report from accountants Chandlers said that 30% of them were ‘increasingly dependant’ on guest tradesmen.
But Mr Galins said that his hotel was running at an occupancy level way beyond its UK counterparts.
‘Some hotels are complaining that they are suffering from a lack of visitors because of the state of the island’s tourist industry. They say that they are therefore having to change use because of this.’ he said.
‘But in reality, if you look closely you can see that in the main they are owned by people who are over 50 years old. They have made no provision for retirement and are looking to get out of the industry and capitalise by maximising the amount they can make from selling the property.
‘The hotels that are complaining about a lack of visitors are suffering not because of the state of the local tourist industry, but because of their own lack of investment.’
Mr Galins and his sister, Sue Smithies, bought the Hotel Bon Port three years ago. She has been a hotelier all her life and he was a chairman of a UK media company.
He said that the Chandlers report was very useful but claimed that many of the island’s top hotels were not canvassed, putting a different slant on the results. The Hotel Bon Port was not asked to participate.
‘Tradespeople stay in the cheapest accommodation, which is often the lowest quality. Those hotels have made no investment and therefore are reliant on tradespeople.
‘The problem of the report is that it talked to people at the lower end of the market, like those who are seeking change of use and are struggling because they have made no investment.’
Mr Galins said that in fact tourism was far from dead and considerable profits could be made.
Substantial investment had been made in refurbishing the hotel, the swimming pool and the sun terrace. He has also applied to make a £4.5m. investment to increase the number of self-catering units, raise hotel bed spaces and expand the restaurant.
‘The report shows that the profile of visitors has changed to middle-aged, affluent couples. Guernsey is an expensive destination and we as a hotel are quite expensive but people are willing to pay if they get the right service and facilities.’
Mr Galins said that others such as Tom Scott and Derek Coates realised the strength of the Guernsey tourist industry and the returns to be made if the right investment was made.
He added that VisitGuernsey was doing its best to promote the island but hotels had to play their part in marketing themselves.
Article posted on 7th August, 2004 - 12.00am
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