A message to TRM inmates… We have to increase our room rates to make ends meet.

Anglers will understand and appreciate that any room rate $adjustments are in direct proportion to the increase in trout size and number of trout landed and the claimed number of trophy trout that escaped this season.

Everyone else – all other tourist accommodation operators have now increased since Covid arrived – except TRM – so it is past time for catch-up.

Below is a political justification of why? You should not be surprised.

Even after adjustment, TRM still offer the lowest $room rate for a studio and provide better value considering the facilities available. i.e. TRM units are larger, all have undercover parking, fully equipped kitchens with full-size ovens, the larger family units have fridge freezer units, plus other attractions particularly aimed at fishos such as a commercial smoker free of charge, guest laundry free of charge, boat parking, wader drying cupboards, etc.

Throughout the covid period without tourist guests from overseas, room rates were held at previous levels and offered substantial discounts for regular fishy long stay guests. We regret we cannot afford to continue at this level.

A comparison of nine other local motels indicated their base rate studios averaged $148/night so TRM has increased studio rates to $140/night. Other one bedroom and two bedroom units have increased similarly to $150/night and $180/night respectively.

It is simple basic economics. In other tourist towns like Rotorua over 60% of motels have been taken over by the government for “Emergency Housing” paying grossly excessive rack-rent levels in anticipation of the likely refurbishment costs needed if they are ever vacated. This has severely reduced the availability of remaining motel units that have increased their daily rates as the demand from tourists exceeds supply.

Ditto Taupo.

Ditto Turangi.

TRM has been approached many times by WINZ “clients” as we have five larger two-bedroom family units ideal for emergency housing requirements, but for some obscure reason, SWMBO preferred happy angler inmates compared to obscene $profits. The three times TRM were caught out by WINZ clients booking through online agencies were all disastrous.

But the problem is now that when a motel is quoting the lowest room rates in town it attracts a similar undesirable category of guests. The photo below illustrates how they left their studio unit recently after extending their stay and not being able to pay. They should never be allowed in a motel at all but sneak in by pre-booking through online travel agents (i.e. booking-dot-com) where we do not have the opportunity to refuse them.

Hopefully, by raising the room rates to the same commercial levels as other motels, these people will be discouraged and head towards the cheaper basic back-packer type accommodation sharing bathrooms and kitchens. They should never be allowed to even mix with the typical fishy TRM inmates – a far superior species of guest!

If prospective guests cannot afford motel room rates then they need to consider other basic more affordable budget accommodations offering bedrooms and sharing bathrooms and kitchens. There are plenty of alternatives available. TRM prefers more discerning good looking guests who appreciate the better things in life…

More than 10,000 people are living in emergency accommodations such as motels,

The Government has spent more than $1 billion on emergency housing grants since it came into office five years ago.

Twenty Waikato providers have cashed more than $100 million housing the homeless during the Covid-19 pandemic.

They are just some of more than 200 providers who earned million-dollar sums from the Government during the Covid-19 pandemic as the country grapples with a housing crisis and the soaring cost of living.