Accommodation will be at a premium as more major events start to roll into the Barossa, as a result of the $40 million investment to improve sporting, recreational and community facilities at Lyndoch by the Barossa Council and the State Labor Government, according to State Member for Light and Labor Duty Member for Schubert, Tony Piccolo MP.
Mr Piccolo is urging the Malinauskas Labor Government to support Gomersal’s Karl Roth and his $84 million, 98-room Nexus Hotel development in Lyndoch that will help keep visitors in the Barossa overnight.
“The $40 million Lyndoch Recreation Park upgrade is already underway and has the facilities to host more major national events in the region – starting with AFL Gather Round next year,” Mr Piccolo said.
“This hotel is only a few stone throws away from this new precinct, and statistics released by South Australian Tourism Industry last year showed almost three times as many people are only visiting the Barossa for a day rather than staying overnight (925,000-day visits compared to 316,000 overnight stays).
“It would be good for the Government to provide some assistance to assure this project happens.”
The blended 5–6-star hotel will be run by an international hotel operator and features a function space, restaurant and day spa accessible to all guests.
Mr Roth, who owns luxury accommodation business Barossa Pavilions on Yaldara Drive, including the iconic Barossa Glasshouse, believes this new hotel will help boost the Barossa economy.
“Certain clientele want a 5-6 star service in their hotels, so they come to the Barossa for a day, tick off all the main attractions, then drive back to Adelaide to get that service,” Mr Roth said.
“75 per cent our guests are repeat customers because they don’t just come for the wine, they come for the vistas and the landscape we showcase – that ‘Instagram-able’, iconic moment that they can share with their friends and encourage them to stay overnight as well.
“We want visitors to experience the Barossa we know by staying longer to go to the cafes, the smaller cellar doors and all the other industries we have here.”