Despite a year of uncertainty and struggle for tourism, Griffith accommodation providers are looking at a booked out Christmas break.
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"We are 100 per cent up on last year," Brad Shennan, manager of The Grand Motel on Banna Ave said.
"Normally December is quite quiet because of the weather and last year was worse because of the bush fires. But this year we are looking at about 70 per cent occupancy at the moment, which is busy.
"We are almost fully booked at this stage for Christmas Day and Boxing Day."
This is encouraging news for Griffith, with tourism dollars bringing much needed continued recovery to local businesses and producers.
Quest hotel in Griffith is the largest hotel in town with a capacity of roughly 200 bookings in 68 rooms. After a year that saw new owners Sophie Sun and Yarrick Kee Mew have to dip into their savings to keep the business alive and their staff employed, they are fully booked for Christmas.
"I have 200 bookings for Christmas," Ms Sun said.
"We have no room available now, we are booked out."
Making the innovative change from a corporate to a leisure business strategy is baring fruit for the Sydney couple who have seen their hotel go from the bottom of 150 Quest Hotels Australia wide to within the top 10 in just three months.
"People are staying for three nights because I designed the program hoping that the longer they stay the more money they spend in the town," Ms Sun said.
"We try as much as possible to promote the small businesses around Griffith and the region."
Dee Furner, owner of Ingleden Park Cottages is seeing an increased number of inquiries from Melbourne and regional Victoria now that the borders are open.
"One of the cottages is booked for the Christmas period already," Ms Furner said.
"They are coming to visit family here in Griffith.
"I believe with the heat this time of year people prefer to go to the coast but I've had a lot more bookings this time from last year, probably up 50 per cent."
Ingleden offers two cottages with a maximum of 10 people and Ms Furner says that despite the heat, people are travelling regionally as she hosts a lot of people stopping in Griffith on their way through to other regional towns.
"We have a lot more Victorian people coming through now. Next week I've got a booking for a father and his children that are doing the round trip to Broken Hill," Ms Furner said.
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Kat is a former English teacher to international students and has taught all over the world. She is beginning a new career as a journalist with the Area News. Got something you want to chat about? She's all ears.
Kat is a former English teacher to international students and has taught all over the world. She is beginning a new career as a journalist with the Area News. Got something you want to chat about? She's all ears.
