Heeding the two-star message

The L’Eree Bay Hotel, occupying a prime position looking out across to the Hanois Lighthouse, has been around for decades.

And whilst even its biggest fans would struggle to describe the building as the most attractive-looking of coastal landmarks, it has been providing a popular service for return visitors and loyal locals for years.

Sadly, although it appears to have withstood the many ebbs and flows of Guernsey’s tourism story so far – an uncertain future now lies ahead for the business as we know it.

It is bleak to see any enterprise cease trading and its proprietor’s explanation that this is down to a fall in demand from two-star hotel clients due to the high cost of travel to the island feels worrying.

With a 30-year record in the hospitality sector he is likely to know what he’s talking about and it makes uncomfortable reading.

He warned of how up to 80% of people who requested a quote and were lined up to stay there, later cancelled after discovering the expense of reaching here via ferries or flights.

For tourism such news must surely ring some alarm bells.

Not everyone is looking for high-end travel experiences – many just want a reasonably-priced trip either to sample the island for a short break or to catch up with family and friends.

It may be they can’t afford to fork out more and this is their only trip away.

Or it could simply be that they just don’t want to – that coming to Guernsey is an extra treat but not one they are prepared to pay five-star prices for.

Gone are the days when visiting Guernsey was a cheap or particularly easy option.

If this latest trend is true and set to continue then it would make sense for more work to be done on travel and accommodation solutions targeting this lower-price sector – particularly with recent developments surrounding Airbnb and ever-increasing competition from Jersey which has already attracted a well-known budget hotel chain.