Kaimai View Motel
- Details
- Published Date
Trebling the performance of the motel they took over in the space of five years did not happen by accident for Tony and Evelyn Drinkwater.
Tony Drinkwater spent three decades in senior corporate business management, but in general did not enjoy what he was doing. And like his wife Evelyn who worked in pharmacy, he resented the long daily commutes in heavy Auckland traffic.
For more than 10 years they thought about running a motel and looked seriously for the right one for 18 months. "I wanted a new motel that was modern, low maintenance and particularly one that was not performing well," said Tony.
Not until 2005 when they were shown Kaimai View Motel in the prosperous kiwifruit region of Katikati did the pieces all seem to fall into place. "I just looked at it and thought: 'Oh my god, this place is going to fly.'" He and Evelyn bought the lease two days later and began running the motel at the beginning of March.
When they moved in, the exterior was painted in the one shade of yellow while guests were welcomed by landscaping that was virtually nil.
"I painted various parts in bright maroon and put a lot of very exceptional plants in the front garden and suddenly, the whole of Katikati started to talk," Tony said. Local people used to come in and say: 'We love what you've done here.' After six months we'd grown the business 57 per cent higher than it had ever done before."
Building winning websites
Tony believes those owning or running motels must be suitable for the job.
"You've got to be a business and marketing person. One of the best things I did was create my own websites. Straightaway we got noticed, not only by the rest of New Zealand but people from England, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands and also the U.S.
"The secret is to keep your websites looking fresh, new and interesting. We're the only motel that I know of where the owner has taken the trouble to use information about the local area that is interesting and doesn't even relate to the motel. It's brought us a huge amount of business."
By the time the recession hit New Zealand, Kaimai View Motel was performing so well that revenue had trebled and it was winter 2009 before the couple noticed any decline in bookings. Cost efficiencies meant there was no reduction in net revenue but Tony says cost cutting should never apply to repairs and maintenance.
"Even in a recession, your place has to look like it is the best in the world. People who haven't been here before often say: 'Have you just built this?' And it's coming up to 10 years old."
Art a major talking point
When the Drinkwaters took over at Kaimai View, it was plain inside as well with just a few mirrors on the walls. It was fortunate that the remedy was a strength of Tony's – he is an artist who loves to paint.
'Every unit now has a minimum of four of my oil paintings. Whether you have the ability to paint yourself doesn't matter – you simply have to have them. If you can't paint, go and buy them."
Some are colourful landscapes from New Zealand and overseas but some of them are quite surreal.
"People look at them and start to laugh. They're a great talking point for tourists. They feel good about it and they tell other people." In February 2009, 76 per cent of those guests were from overseas.
Tony describes most New Zealand motels as "plane jane. They're acceptable – but not exceptional."
The Drinkwaters believe achieving that standard requires high quality beds and furnishings along with flat screen LCD televisions, DVD and CD players and free wireless internet.
But technology and fittings do not replace human warmth. "We're always talking with our guests," Tony said. "People stay here for a few days and when they're leaving they often give Evelyn a cuddle and shake my hand.
"The secret is to be friendly – and different. Something we have here is pride. You can make your motel so that you're really proud of it. Otherwise it's just a business."
Are you interested in lifting your industry profile?
Email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
