Tour operators that paid deposits for bookings at The Victorian 1906 Hotel in Montagu, Western Cape, have been left out of pocket after the hotel closed its doors.
A tour operator, who has a group booked to stay in the hotel in a couple weeks’ time, told Tourism Update this week that the hotel closed its doors. “Seems like we will not only have to look for alternative accommodation but likely will also lose our money,” the operator said.
Rainer Moringer, who managed the hotel and was in the process of purchasing the property, said: “As from 1 November 2014 the owner of the hotel and of the business of the hotel cancelled the Deed of Sale we had and took over again.”
According to Moringer, any bookings made and paid before the sale took place are the responsibility of the owner.
Tourism Update spoke to a bookkeeper representing the owner who confirmed that the hotel was closed. The representative said the ownership of the hotel had not changed and that the tenant, Moringer, had been evicted.
She advised that operators that have made future bookings with the hotel should cancel with their clients, while operators that have paid deposits on these bookings should send an email to reservations@thevictorian.co.za. “We are getting a letter from the lawyer for people who want to claim their money back from Mr Moringer.”