Australian Hotels Association ACT fear losses due to Parliamentary shut down

AHAACT have voiced fears that the ACT will lose out due to the election timetable.

In a major blow to the local economy, more than $6 million will be wiped from the sector with Federal Parliament not sitting for a majority of the second half of the year, the AHA survey of leading hotel accommodation businesses in February 2013 found.

Analysis by the AHA ACT showed that Federal Parliament may not sit for at least four months from June 27 in the lead up and after the proposed September 14 poll.

AHA ACT Branch General Manager Brad Watts said many hotels heavily relied on income from sitting weeks but this revenue will dry up due to the non-sitting of Parliament.

“The Federal poll will take a heavy toll on the hotel and hospitality sector, especially when some smaller hotels rely on up to 80 per cent of business during Parliamentary sitting weeks,” Mr Watts said.