The struggling Oceans Hotel and Apartments at Tutukaka closed suddenly yesterday, ending a three-year saga of receiverships and financial crises.
Staff due at work on Thursday were told not to come in and all bookings were cancelled.
The shock closure was made public on the hotel's website. The notice, addressed to guests
and signed "the team at Oceans", said no inquiries would be accepted until further notice and hinted at the possibility of re-opening sometime in the future.
The decision to close appears to be linked with the collapse of investment company Bridgecorp. All inquiries are being directed to the Bridgecorp receiver, Colin McCloy of Auckland.
Confused messages were being sent out on Tuesday, with bookings both confirmed and cancelled. The booking for the winner of a "supreme weekend" at the hotel this weekend was confirmed by email on Tuesday and cancelled yesterday, while Sport Northland was told on Tuesday to find somewhere else for a staff conference for 17 scheduled for today and tomorrow.
Asked about Tuesday's contradictory messages, receptionist Renae Humphries said she had been "doing her job as instructed".
Dive Tutukaka relocated about 10 people who had made forward bookings through the company for the hotel's low-cost group accommodation for divers.
Luke Howe, Dive Tutukaka supervising skipper, said the closure was sad news for the district. "And from our side of things, it's very disappointing," he said.
The retail premises on the ground floor of the hotel are privately owned except for the Discover Tutukaka premises, a booking agency for accommodation and activities at Tutukaka.
Owner Jill Ward said she hoped her tenancy was secure because her lease ran for another six years.
She said hotel staff had told her yesterday they had simply been told they were unemployed and that the hotel was being sold.
Tutukaka Surf owner Mel Eggington said all owners were worried about who would take over the body corporate's responsibilities for maintenance, but had been unable to get any information so far.
The apartments and the businesses are all on a separate power supply to the hotel, which may be without power from today.
The hotel is owned by Australians Ian Barry and James Donnelly.
