NewsBites 

During the first lockdown in 2020 Bayleys acquired brokerage Resort Brokers which was a strong competitor in the sale of accommodation property, motels, lodges, hotels and suchlike. This merger positioned Bayleys as a market leader in the sale of hotels, motels and tourism-related properties and businesses.
 
In the tourism industry, data is looking brighter with visitor numbers jumping and also daily rooms rates on the rise. The sector faces ongoing challenges with staffing shortages however overall the feeling is optimistic.
 
Bayleys has just released its latest edition of the Hotels, Tourism & Leisure portfolio blending industry insight and leisure opportunities throughout New Zealand and Fiji. In this issue we delve deeper into the tourism rebound post-Covid, investigate why serviced apartments are proving to be a rising star in the sector, and how in Fiji the ‘light has been switched on once the country’s border was reopened. To view the latest edition click here.

Please also contact Bayleys Timaru if you are looking at selling your South Canterbury or Mackenzie accommodation or tourism related property or business. Nationally the Bayleys team reports strong levels of enquiry and some significant deals being inked
 
 

The Chamber wins Best Practice Business Support Award

We are thrilled to advise that the South Canterbury Chamber and Mackenzie District Council were awarded a Commendation Award from the Economic Development Association of NZ for best practice in ‘Business Recovery Support'.  
Noticing that many businesses and community groups were falling through the cracks of eligibility for main-stream funding, Mackenzie District Council partnered with the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce to create a unique solution ‘A Hand-Up, not a Hand-Out’  principle. 56 Mackenzie businesses received support across multiple sectors, including tourism, hospitality, manufacturing, aquaculture, construction, education, healthcare, retail and not-for-profits utilising training services, business advice and reviews.

 

Extension of current Covid-19 legislation to 2025 opposed

Business NZ, Canterbury and Auckland Chambers and many lead bodies have written to the government to raise serious concerns about the intention of extending the current Covid-19 legislation to 2025. None of the frameworks that the Government used to justify this legislation remain and it is believed that updated legislation should be created with consultation and based on the 2017 Pandemic Action Plan.
It is clear that the there is a lack of appropriate risk assessment on the impact on businesses and individuals and the use of “low level tools” such as mask wearing, isolation periods and capacity limits failed to take into account the impact of these plans. These have included lack of foot traffic in store, abuse and violence towards employees; a lack of staff to operate businesses while others are in isolation and an arbitrary cap on capacities with no account of space availability. This has created winners and losers and led to a huge amount of stress and mental health and well being issues.
It is out of step with the rest of the world and has had dire effects on some industries.  The proposal asks that the Government works with lead bodies to create a well thought through and consulted and sustainable disease – agnostic pandemic plan not just based on Covid-19.