Illawarra accommodation providers have welcomed new targeted support for businesses in the sector who lost bookings over the winter school holiday period.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The funding is designed to boost cash flow to eligible accommodation premises of all sizes that lost room nights between June 25 and July 11.
Businesses can apply at the Service NSW website for a $2000 grant available for operators who have had a cancellation of 10 room nights or less or a $5000 grant for accommodation premises that have had a cancellation of 11 room nights or more.
Top Stay Accommodation's Steve Melchior welcomed the announcement and said he will be wasting no time applying for the accommodation funding as well as a business grant for his trike tour business Just Cruisin'.
"We had every night booked during the school holidays and had to cancel every one," Mr Melchior said.
"And bookings made for the next couple of weeks have all gone. It will make a hell of a difference to me and my partner Shelley because we are stumped and have no income coming in at all."
Tourism minister Stuart Ayres said it was heartbreaking that the recent COVID-19 outbreak occurred right on the cusp of the winter school holidays.
"The sector has reported a dramatic decline in occupancy rates," Mr Ayers said.
"This program is for all eligible accommodation premises across NSW, as the current restrictions not only affect Greater Sydney operators but also those in regional NSW who lost their main source market from metropolitan Sydney or interstate.
"There are more than 38,000 accommodation providers in NSW, from hotels and motels to holiday home rentals. I encourage all businesses to look at the Service NSW website for more information, including detailed eligibility criteria, as it's published in the coming weeks."
To be eligible, businesses must be registered for GST and/or hold an ABN, be located in NSW.
Where an owner/operator owns multiple accommodation premises each accommodation premises is eligible for the grant.
Mr Ayers said accommodation providers can apply for the latest grant as well as other support measures such as the COVID-19 Business Grant and the business and employee support program.
Read more:
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
