Motels see fewer Hunter's visitors

Marlborough motels are wondering where the gardeners have gone as the Hunter's Garden Marlborough crowds that used to fill beds continue to dwindle.

Motel Association of New Zealand Marlborough Branch president Andy Wrighton said there were still a lot of beds empty this weekend, unusual in what had traditionally been a bumper weekend for moteliers.

"It's certainly not bulging at the seams."

But Hunter's Garden Marlborough executive manager Nicolle Cooze said demand for tickets was no less than last year.

"It's been steady right the way through."

Mr Wrighton said motel guest numbers for the gardening weekend had dropped over the past three or four years and the number of large groups visiting specially for Hunter's Garden Marlborough had declined.

"It's obviously still a very successful weekend, but maybe there's more locals doing the tours ... four or five years ago, [motel beds] would be sold out to two or three months ahead.

"This year must be a sign of the times."

He said it was possible there would be a last-minute rush.

Lugano Motor Lodge owner Brenda Burgess said yesterday one room was still available tonight and Saturday after several people who booked ahead after last year's garden weekend later cancelled.

Though she expected the empty rooms to fill, given the motel's location opposite Hunter's Garden Marlborough's headquarters, she said this year was noticeably quieter and people were staying one or two nights rather than the usual three or four.

Many garden guests came from Nelson and Mrs Burgess wondered if this year they decided they had already seen most of the gardens on the tour and would give this year a miss.

Phoenix Motor Inn owner Ross Menzies said while Hunter's Garden Marlborough was not usually a big event for his motel, guest numbers for the event had been tapering off.

"When we bought [the motel] five years ago, we were almost a full house; well, we probably were a full house. It's quietly dropped off."

But 171 on High Motel owner Ian Johnston said that for him, the coming weekend was "flat out" with guests, mostly coming from areas north of Canterbury.

He said most were "returners" from previous years.

Chateau Marlborough front-office manager Sharyn Rickerby said numbers there were probably lower than usual for a Garden Marlborough season but the hotel was "pretty full".

Guests predominantly came from Nelson, Christchurch and Wellington.

Waterfront Motel manager Lisa Hart said there was "steady" custom during this year's Hunter's Garden Marlborough season, with Friday and Saturday nights the busiest. Guests mostly came from Canterbury, she said.

- The Marlborough Express