One in five of city motels on market

Union Victoria Motel owner Bruce Beesley is ready to move on from the motel industry. Photo / Stephen Parker

Almost one in five of Rotorua's motels are for sale but there is no shortage of buyers, an expert says.

Fourteen out of the city's 76 motels are listed for sale on Trade Me, Resort Brokers and TourismProperties, but the Rotorua motel market is strong, with many looking to buy a motel here, says Ray Hart from Resort Motel Brokers.

"There is no increase in people looking to leave the industry, quite the opposite actually. The market's very strong, we have had over 25 agreements drawn up since April, nationwide, four or five of which have been in Rotorua."

Mr Hart, who is a broker for accommodation businesses and properties in the Rotorua and Taupo areas, said Rotorua was popular with buyers.

"Rotorua is a good place to buy a motel. Every overseas person travelling through New Zealand comes there, as well as the high Auckland domestic market. It's always very strong."

Union Victoria Motel owner and former Rotorua Association of Motels secretary Bruce Beesley has had his business listed for sale since December.

He has owned Union Victoria for 10 years and said business was definitely looking up, but the industry would need to continue to have boom summer seasons. "We need two or three more summers like the one we have had to catch up with bad summers.

"We have had the motel for 10 years and now we've decided we want to move on to the next phase of our life," he said.

Rob Roy Motel is also for sale.

Owner Pam Sharma is also ready to take a step back from the business, which she has had on the market for two years.

She was waiting on a strong offer, she said.

"We've been here for 11 years, so it's time to move on.

"We should find a buyer. It's a freehold going concern. I will still stay here once it is sold, I am going to retire here and stay in Rotorua. I'm a very Rotorua person."