Elwyn Violich built the Hacienda Motel 25 years ago after a career as a farm advisor, and one of the great aspects about the business was that you never got wet and cold, he said.
“In a motel you live right on site, so you walk down the corridor and you’re at work. It doesn’t matter about the weather.”
Its Victoria St location puts the motel close to the hospital, regional council and a host of businesses that attract visitors to Palmerston North, with some families staying for weeks in the two and three-bedroom apartments. Yet it is still a quiet street, away from the hustle and bustle of the main roads, he said.
The business was being sold as a going concern and Violich said they were willing to spend part of the first two months teaching new owners how to run the motel efficiently.
“Motelling can be a complementary business to the ongoing farm operation, with the next generation taking over the farm management and the seniors living on site, in town, running the motel.”
It provided a steady income on a daily, weekly and monthly basis that was not influenced by seasonal fluctuations, he said.
The motel has a full marketing mix of unit types and sizes and a stringent maintenance programme meant it had been completely upgraded in the past 10 years.
For further information contact Elwyn on 06 357 3109. The motel can be viewed at www.hacienda.co.nz.
