Use It… Or Lose It!
Our huts are one of the biggest drawcards for members, consistently rated as one of the top two member benefits. The pricing of these huts remains reasonable compared to other types of accommodation, and they offer simple, friendly places to base yourself for your adventures.
Over the past few years, we have seen changes in the usage of the huts. While Homer and Arthur’s Pass have become increasingly popular, and Ruapehu’s winter usage remains strong, other great spots like Unwin and Porter are underutilised by members.
Unwin Lodge at Aoraki Mt Cook has been referred to as the crown jewel in our network, but I’m beginning to wonder if it might actually be the white elephant. During the early years after the renovation, usage by membership was strong, and the policy of no group bookings through the summer remains to this day, giving members and non-members a great chance of getting a bed. However, in the last few years it has not been returning the income to the Club that we expect. Increasing costs are certainly part of the story, but so too is falling usage. From 2013–2016 the lodge had an average of 5100 bed nights per year. From 2021–2024 the average was 4200, an 18% drop in bed nights. I understand Covid had an influence here, especially on our group bookings, but we have also had a corresponding drop in member usage over the last few years. From 2013–2016 we had an average of 1345 member bed nights a year, but from 2021– 2024 there were 1050 average member bed nights, a 22% drop.
The lodge was extensively renovated in 2012 with Club funds, donations, loans and fundraising contributing $750,000 to the build. The strategy was that the lodge would then provide a solid return to the Club over time, contributing to the upkeep of other huts and hopefully also to other programmes. While it does do this, it has yet to realise its full potential. This begs the question: was the $750,000 a good investment for the Club? Is it still the best use of our money?
What is the balance between member usage and generating funds for the Club? Although Unwin can’t be sold, as a tester of opportunity cost, imagine the other uses we would have for $750,000 – a bouldering base at Castle Hill, a campground in Wanaka, a massive programme of climbing instruction, or secured funding of ACAT for multiple years.
Perhaps the strategy was short-sighted. Historically, the summer mountaineering season saw members staying for weeks at a time, waiting for weather windows and enjoying the atmosphere. With the rise of constrained leisure time, improved weather forecasting and the earlier, shorter and more volatile mountaineering season, perhaps those long-stay days are gone. The heights of 2013 and 2014 might have just been the hype of the new lodge, which the over-tourism reputation of the area has now worn down. While the situation isn’t make or break yet, if this trend continues, it will become an issue for the Club in the future. Maybe it is time to switch from the dual focus of member accommodation and income generation to solely focus on the impact that a revenue first model can make.
I can hear the outrage now: “Karen! How could you even think of filling Unwin with tourists?” “What if members can’t get a bed?” “What if it is all foreigners?” “When did you become a corporate capitalist wanting to put money before everything else?” “A booking system? That is the beginning of the end for the Club.” “Is the Club becoming a hotel business?”
Well people, the answer from the person who pays the bills, is simple. The lodge can’t run on rainbows and fresh air: use your lodge!
We are making some changes to encourage more usage. Some of the dormitory-style bunks and family rooms will be added to a booking system on a trial basis. We will be advertising to tramping Clubs and other aligned groups to increase their usage year-round. We hope to restart the popular workshops that we used to hold during quiet periods, and we are looking to upgrade the kitchen facilities to a modern commercial standard, thereby improving the experience for both groups and individuals.
We also need your help here. When was the last time you stayed at Unwin? Did you bring some non-members with you to enjoy the facility too? Could you recommend it to other like-minded people? If we can improve the income generated from Unwin, we can then reinvest the money in our alpine huts and other climbing programmes, which is a win-win for both the Club and the outdoor community.
Looking for activities in the area that are not overrun with tourists? Try these.
Guideless Buttress on Mt Wakefield