Atherton, Queensland
Long Lease Motel with Strong Occupancy and Simple Operation
$730,000
Business Description
An outstanding opportunity to acquire a well-presented and easy-to-run leasehold motel in the heart of the Atherton Tablelands.
Positioned directly opposite Atherton Hospital and only moments from the town centre, this 17-room motel enjoys strong repeat corporate and tourist trade with consistent occupancy and excellent forward bookings.
The current owners have invested heavily into upgrading and modernising the property over recent years, creating a highly efficient and largely automated operation with minimal ongoing capital expenditure anticipated.
Key improvements include:
• Refurbishment of 5 guest rooms and 1 two-bedroom apartment
• New bathrooms, furniture and fittings
• New roof
• New CCTV system
• New commercial laundry equipment
• Full repaint of motel frontage and doors
• Numerous operational and equipment upgrades throughout
The business currently operates with a simple staffing structure consisting of casual cleaners only, with automated check-in systems significantly reducing front desk requirements.
Features include:
• Long 27-year lease tenure
• Strong occupancy averaging approximately 79%
• Average room rate approximately $155 per night (inc)
• Consistent corporate, hospital and tourism trade
• Opposite Atherton Hospital
• Easy-to-operate business model
• Manager’s residence included
• Opportunity to improve margins through increased direct bookings
• Further upside through meal service or expanded guest offerings
• Strong forward bookings exceeding $140,000
The motel was originally operated successfully by a husband-and-wife team with minimal staff involvement, providing flexibility for incoming owners to tailor operations to suit their preferred lifestyle and management style.
The current owners also heavily utilise Online Travel Agents for bookings, presenting a clear opportunity for incoming operators to improve profitability by increasing direct bookings and reducing commission costs.
Regional leasehold motels with long tenure, strong occupancy and limited competition remain tightly held and highly sought after.
Inspection strictly by appointment only.
Business Summary
Key Investment Insights
1. 27-year lease tenure provides long-term security and investment stability.
2. Prime location directly opposite Atherton Hospital and moments from the town centre, supporting reliable hospital and corporate demand.
3. 17-room motel plus manager’s residence offers an owner-operator friendly footprint.
4. Strong occupancy averaging approximately 79 percent, indicating consistent demand.
5. Average room rate circa $155 per night inclusive, supporting solid revenue per room.
6. Strong repeat corporate, hospital and tourist trade, delivering steady bookings and resilience.
7. Robust forward bookings in excess of $140,000, providing near-term revenue visibility.
8. Significant recent capital upgrades including refurbished rooms and apartment, new bathrooms, furniture and fittings, new roof, new CCTV, new commercial laundry and full repaint, reducing imminent capex needs.
9. Simple, largely automated operation with automated check-in and casual cleaners only, lowering staffing complexity and operating costs.
10. Clear margin improvement opportunity by shifting bookings from Online Travel Agents to direct channels, reducing commission costs.
11. Additional upside available through introducing meal service or expanded guest offerings to increase ancillary revenue.
12. Energy rating 1 flagged as a notable feature, potentially requiring attention for efficiency or marketing considerations.
