Hamilton motel’s 24-hour approach wins national award

28 August 2015

Hamilton motel’s 24-hour approach wins national award

Hamilton motel Astra Motor Lodge never sleeps. Located near Waikato Hospital the team receives calls at all hours from the Intensive Care Unit or emergency departments asking for rooms for family members.

It’s a fact that doesn’t faze the staff, especially owner Steven and Bronny Pett who say making life easy for their guests is paramount.

It’s this approach that won the couple the 2015 AA Supreme Host of the Year award at the Motel Association of New Zealand (MANZ) conference last night in Dunedin.

AA Tourism Publishing General Manager Moira Penman says what set the motel apart was the staff’s ability to show a genuine care for the comfort of their guests.

“We’ve heard reports of the team running shuttles to and from Waikato Hospital and even taking new doctors staying with them for tours around the city to help them get to know the area,” says Ms Penman.

“In addition, long stay guests who may have family in the hospital are invited for a roast dinner in Steven and Bronny’s own home in the winter and barbecue in the summer. It shows that the commitment to providing great customer service is at the heart of how the business operates and the Trip Advisor reviews are a testament to this.”

The couple even makes a point of visiting patient families when they move on for treatment at other locations, even if that means driving up to Auckland.

Almost 19,000 people have stayed at Astra Motor Lodge since it opened in 2013 and Steven and Bronny say the level of repeat business they receive can be boiled down to providing hassle-free accommodation.

The AA Supreme Host of the Year award, now in its eighth year, recognises and celebrates motels with exceptional standards of customer service and hospitality.

It’s the second year a Hamilton motel has won the award, and the first time Astra Motor Lodge has won the coveted title after making it through as a finalist last year.

The judging panel was made up of representatives from AA Traveller, Qualmark and Inside Tourism.

AA Traveller is an expert in domestic tourism in New Zealand and publishes and distributes almost three million maps and accommodation guides every year to assist motorists and visitors as they explore the country.

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