The Senator Motor Inn, Gisborne, New Zealand, is located on a very prominent waterfront site in Reads Quay, opposite the harbour and wharf - a very valuable, commercial premium for residential accommodation along this prime waterfront location.

The Senator Motor Inn freehold and business for sale by Link Business Brokers Hawkes Bay, Ross Candy and Gordon Fridge.

Gordon Fridge told The hotel Conversation, "The site was originally ranged through various commercial activities – sited for the proximity to the wharf and harbour, until the early 2000’s when the huge, real potential of this site was recognised, and the majority of the old warehouse was demolished to make way for these current, desirable motel/apartments, and the current very spacious Manager’s home.

The Senator Motor Inn apartments are superbly located for views of the Turanganui River, the harbour and wharf activities and is perfectly situated for the tourist market, with an increasing number of cruise ships scheduled to dock in Gisborne - introducing world travellers to the Tairawhiti region with 8 visits in the 2023 cruise ship season (Nov-Mar), increasing to 13 scheduled visits for 2024, Fridge added. 

Ross Candy commented, "The current ownership of the freehold and motel business is not typical of a Freehold Going Concern in that the three owners are friends who, between them, own all the Unit Titled apartments and who also own the motel business - Senator Management Ltd in shares equal to their Freehold ownership.

The motel business is run under management, with all operating costs covered by the motel business, with the Owners receiving the significant profit derived from the business, also divided proportionately to their Freehold ownership.

The motel business does not pay rent, nor do they have a lease back to themselves, as owners. This gives a new Freehold owner an exciting opportunity to establish a new lease on terms and conditions to suit and to also charge an appropriate market rent, if selling the motel lease, he further commented. 

The Senator has been operating as a motel since the early-to-mid 2000s.The very spacious, well appointed, 3-bedroom manager’s home and reception area has a huge adjoining garage/workshop, which was re-developed from a section of the original warehouse space.This home is noted on title as Common Area for the unit-titled apartments. The home is a light, modern space with a large kitchen, a separate living room which opens through wide slider doors, leading to a sunny covered balcony.

Upstairs offers 3 very spacious bedrooms and a huge loft/attic which the current managers use as a play, or exercise area. This size and quality of manager’s/owner’s home is quite rare in a motel business! said Fridge. 

Brokers Ross Candy and Gordon Fridge state that this FHGC is quite unique, and the sale of this valuable asset offers a new owner/investor a range of very profitable opportunities to maximise this investment, not usually available with such sales.  

“We very rarely see a Freehold and motel business of this quality and size, with such a huge potential upside”, says Ross Candy. “the current owners have been very happy to sit back and reap the rewards of a very viable and profitable business, without the need for time and effort to change the structure for further income/return on investment”, says Candy.

Gordon Fridge points out the numerous possibilities that a new owner would likely explore, including:

• Sell off the 16 Unit Titled apartments–establish a Body Corps.
• Unit Title/sell the manager’s home.
• Convert the apartments into 8 x stunning 2-bedroom/2-bathroom apartments for maximum re-sale.
• Convert the motel business into a management rights business and sell the business.
• Carry on with the current motel business – reap the rewards as an owner/ operator.
• Consider future full site development.

Both Ross and Gordon said, “We are excited to offer this premium asset to the market, with the potential for new investor to reap significant rewards.  

We certainly can’t offer any other option in the foreseeable future, to even come close to the opportunities afforded by the purchase of this asset”, says Fridge.

To request a copy of the Information Memorandum please contact one of the marketing agents from Link Business Brokers, Ross Candy and Gordon Fridge via the contact details below.

The Senator Motor Inn Gisborne New Zealand for sale by Link Business Brokers Hawkes Bay. 

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