Mantra Group reports strengthening corporate travel
Teleconferencing and travel freezes are so 2009. Corporate travellers have dusted off their suit-pack and are back on the road and into hotel rooms.
Bob East, who heads up one of Australia’s largest accommodation providers, Mantra Group says that corporate travel has returned to post-GFC levels.
“This is a welcome relief to the industry, which is emerging from an extremely price sensitive market caused by the GFC. However, our results show business has returned to pre GFC levels with occupancy and rates growth.”
The Melbourne CBD market has been a stand-out performer for the group, despite it being the only area in Australia to open new CBD properties.
“June occupancy in Melbourne averaged above 80 percent which is 10% up on this time last year. Revenue per available room (revpar) is also up by more than 10 per cent.”
Mr East said the hotels in Sydney had seen the strongest occupancy growth with a 17% increase on occupancy demand from last year. June occupancies sat around the 80 percent level with a revpar increase of $20.
“Brisbane has performed well with more than 80% percent occupancy and a 10 percent increase in revpar.
“These results indicate the corporate travel industry is back and the days of basement bargain hotel rates are well and truly gone,” he said.
He said it took a while for the big companies with corporate travellers to understand that rates would rise in line with increased demand. However, those who entered into rate contracts at the beginning of the year are noticing the benefits of favourable rates.
Another emerging corporate traveller is small-medium business enterprises (SME). Mantra Group is catering to this lucrative guest, who may have a small team of people regularly travelling, but who are not big enough to enter into rate contracts with hotel groups.
They have launched www.bizbeds.com.au which offers anyone with an ABN a saving of around 10 percent on the best available rate of the day.
About Mantra Group
Mantra Group is a leading Australian-based manager and marketer of hotels and resorts in Australia and New Zealand. The Group owns and operates three well-known and trusted brands – Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree.
With 15,000 rooms under management, Mantra Group is the second largest accommodation operator within Australia. The Group is positioned to offer accommodation ranging from self-contained apartments to luxurious resorts and retreats. The Group’s properties are located in across major tourism destinations in Victoria, Tasmania, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, regional New South Wales, all Australian capital cities and throughout New Zealand.