AS Orange increases the number of accommodation options available, one of the providers says it believes the town is growing up.
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The Templers Mill Motel completed an $8 million extension of 36 additional rooms in April, and a further $600,000 has been spent on refurbishing of some of its older rooms in the months since.
External works and a rejuvenated facade on the Byng Street side will complete the current stage by the end of the year.
Orange Ex-Services’ Club chief executive officer Cameron Provost said management was “rapt” with the result.
He said pre-construction projections estimated a 60-75 per cent occupancy rate after completion, but the actual rates had exceeded expectations by 10-15 per cent.
“Our models were actually quite conservative,” he said.
Mr Provost said weekends were still dominated by families and holidaymakers, but midweek corporate stays were increasingly common.
“There’s people going to conferences, but the real staple are the business sales reps who base themselves in Orange and then go out to Cowra and back, or Dubbo and back,” he said.
He said developing customer expectations meant a renewed focus on quality and, with the Templers Mill’s recent efforts and plans for boutique accommodation under assessment by Orange City Council, Orange was growing up in order to meet it.
“We’re becoming more sophisticated with regard to wine and food, so we need to be part of that,” he said.
“That’s the real driver going from a traditional club offering, and tapping into that through accommodation as well.”
The demand has meant designing a broader range of rooms, from single-bedroom executive suites to two-bedroom apartments with kitchen facilities.
The remainder of Orange Ex-Services’ Club’s $25 million, 15-year master plan includes extending the motel to 125 rooms, a 1200-seat auditorium and 32-seat cinema, two restaurants, entry foyer, gymnasium, day spa, two-storey alfresco area, conference rooms, business centre and a four-storey car park with more than 750 new spaces.
The council is also considering a $3 million redevelopment of the club’s bowling greens to accommodate an a la carte restaurant and wine bar, outdoor dining areas, function spaces, children’s play area and market stalls.
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au
