Spread the love

Despite the significant impact of COVID, snap border closures and anticipated economic hit flowing from JobKeeper ending, local businessman Brendan Du Kamp has taken the bold step of investing almost $1 million in refurbishing Quest Echuca.The upgrade to the 60-room property to create a world-class apartment hotel comes at a time when Brendan like so many local businesses has been hard hit by COVID. A recent survey of accommodation operators along the Murray showed seven in 10 had losses of 40% to 100% due to cancellations in January with one in three suffering revenue hits of 80% to 90%.

“JobKeeper has been a help not just for our business but for so many businesses here in the region,” Brendan said. “We decided that despite COVID, we needed to have the confidence to go ahead with the restoration of the property so that as life starts to become a little more normal, there’s even more of a reason for leisure and business travellers to come to Echuca and experience the magic of the Murray.”

“There’s no doubt there was a leap of faith involved but in the end we believe in this community and we have put our money where our mouth is. We are incredibly proud of the result which thanks to the Echuca Historical Society showcases our story as Australia’s paddle boat capital and largest inland port.”

The massive renovation is already delivering increased inquiries especially with business travellers.

Echuca Moama Tourism CEO Kathryn Mackenzie says while the past 12 months have been challenging, there is a sense of rapidly growing confidence within the region.

“This $1 million refurbishment of Quest Echuca is a very welcome green shoot of recovery in what has been a cataclysmic year for tourism. Pre COVID, tourism here in the Echuca Moama Region injected $1.3 million per day into the local economy and that definitely took a hit,” she said.

“We’re also finally seeing a climb in consumer and corporate confidence in being able to travel intra- and interstate and not be caught out by snap border closures. We need a national approach from State, Territory and Federal government on borders and Echuca Moama Tourism will continue to call for this critical cohesion.”To celebrate the renovation, Quest Echuca is currently offering 25% off on stays of 3+ nights at www.questapartments.com.au