In 1958, Neil “Chopper” Summersby with his wife, Jenny opened Gisborne’s first self-contained motel and one of New Zealand’s first “modern motels” complete with kitchen facilities. As an early pioneer, Chopper’s success played a major part in paving the way for the rapid growth and improvements in the motel throughout New Zealand over the next 30 years.
Motels quickly became an integral part of the New Zealand landscape that shaped New Zealand ideas about modern living and introduced Kiwis to modern consumerism such as colour TV, radios, shagpile carpet and even residential swimming pools.
Today New Zealand’s motel industry offers a product that is unique by world standards. The concept of relatively small low rise properties operated by entrepreneurial couples that rent well equipped New Zealand style apartments is still enduring and has been enjoyed by millions of travellers.
American motels have evolved into large corporate owned franchises that offer a standardised product that blurs the difference between the hotel and motel. This has been in contrast to the smaller independently owned motels that are still prevalent in New Zealand.
What is the future of our industry? Where we go over the years ahead will be determined by many factors; some beyond our control. Our endurance as an industry will depend on our ability to make the “motel experience” new, fresh and the highlight of our customers’ travels, just as it was many years ago.
