Quest Wangaratta has opened just in time for Melbourne travellers seeking a country getaway, and the chain expects to grow occupancy in coming months.
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A conference has been booked as soon as tomorrow, and corporate clients are the key market for the chain.
Quest's head of growth and capital strategy James Shields said regional properties had performed better in recent months than those in heavily-restricted Melbourne.
"We finished October at about 58 per cent occupancy nationally over 130 properties and 50 of those are in Victoria," he told The Border Mail.
"We're feeling optimistic and we're continuing to focus on getting the corporates travelling.
"We've budgeted for five per cent occupancy growth per month for the next six months - that's how we've seen the outlook."
Mr Shields said the difference in states' restrictions had been seen on the border.
"Those [customers] that are needing to travel for business catering for the localised market has been sustained," he said.
"The leisure components that supplement the corporate base has dropped off in Wodonga, whereas in Albury it's remained pretty buoyant."
Mr Shields hoped Quest's addition to the city would encourage more travel.
"We don't run food and beverage so that the cafes and restaurants around here all benefit," he said.
"With all the money the council is spending here in proximity to the train station, it's really well activated."
Construction continues outside of Quest on Docker Street as part of the $6 million Railway Precinct Enhancement Project.
Councillor-elect Dean Rees had hoped it would be "further down the track".
"But it is on track to having the street area completed by mid-December," he said.
"It also helped us, by having Quest here, to get the government funding to do this $10 million redevelopment of this railway precinct."
Cr Rees said Quest filled a gap in the local market.
"We've always been limited and people would go to outlying areas [for accommodation]," he said.
"This will make them stay here and spend their money locally.
"We're expecting a big rush to come from Melbourne up to the regional areas.
"I'm talking to hotels and motels and they're all saying the same thing - they're starting to book."
About 10 staff are currently working at Wangaratta, but Quest expects to grow that number.
Property manager Grace Falconer-Smith was excited to greet her first customer with a glass of sparkling wine.
"I think it's a little sigh of relief each time there's a positive change, especially getting ready for Melbourne guests to travel again," she said.
"That's so important for not just us but the area.
"We're adhering to regional requirements, with size of family groups and things like that.
"There are some maximum occupancies for a couple areas.
"It's a matter of supporting guests to do the right thing."
IN OTHER NEWS:
There are 72 rooms in a mix of apartments and studios, which include accessible configurations, cooking and laundry facilities.
Quest Wangaratta took just under a year to be built by Joss Construction.
Joss has also constructed the Quests in Wodonga, Nowra, and Griffith.