|
|
|
Pets
bringing in the bucks at NSW parks |
Pets bring in
the bucks
Four-legged friends help throw Lake Mac
holiday parks a $6.5m
bone
Have your say
REVENUE from council-owned caravan
parks at Lake Macquarie in NSW has reached a record $6.5 million ... and
pets played a major part in reaching the milestone.
Holiday parks coordinator Garry Ellem said new pet-friendly cabins at
Blacksmiths Beachside and Belmont Lakeside holiday parks, and the earlier
decision to welcome pets across all caravan and camping sites at
Blacksmiths Beachside, had helped drive bookings.
"This has significantly contributed to the growth in park revenue and
occupancy so far this financial year," he said.
"Converting two cabins at Blacksmiths Beachside and one at Belmont
Lakeside to target the pet-friendly market has provided 266 additional
nights usage since July 1."
Lakeshores – Lake Mac's largest property management agency with almost 60
holiday rental properties on its books – revealed that Christmas and New
Year bookings had jumped 12 percent compared to the same period 12 months
ago.
Mr Ellem said caravan and camping sites enjoyed some of the strongest
growth in demand for years across all four sites in the Lake Mac holiday
parks group.
Income from accommodation at Blacksmiths Beachside has risen more than 10
percent this financial year, with even stronger growth in the number of
nights stayed.
Belmont Lakeside managers Peter and Stacey Jenner said up to 80 percent of
holiday park guests arrived with pets.
"Our dog-friendly cabin is booked solid through to February," Mr Jenner
said.
"We're looking to put more pet-friendly cabins in this year to keep up
with demand."
Park visitor Sharon McCarthy said she and her family, including
grandchildren Ruby and Cooper, returned to Belmont Lakeside each year
because of its pet-friendly status.
"We've got a caravan and could go anywhere really, but we always come
here," she said.
"We all know each other now, and the dogs know each other too."
Recent pet-friendly upgrades include new dog-wash stations at Belmont
Lakeside and Blacksmiths Beachside.
Western Sydney guest Heather Williams said finding accommodation where her
cavoodle Bonnie would be happy was a major factor in choosing their summer
holiday destination.
"It's not only the location – not too far for us to drive from Sydney –
but it's also the fact it's dog-friendly."
Lake Macquarie City Council manager of Arts, Culture and Tourism Jacqui
Hemsley said other tourism operators were reporting an increase in
last-minute holiday bookings from Sydneysiders deciding to travel north
rather than to the fire-ravaged NSW South Coast.
"We've also had a couple of calls from operators who have had fire-related
cancellations, where people are unable to get here due to the fires
elsewhere in the state," she said.
"In these cases we have been referring our last-minute customers to these
operators."
BACK TO CARAVANNING NEWS MAIN PAGE
No part of this
publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the prior written
permission of Dennis Amor.
Copyright 2005
Dennis Amor All Rights Reserved
|
|
|