HAVING just had a "very good July occupancy" following the Knysna Oyster Festival, the Parkes Manor Lodge hotel in the Western Cape - which was placed under liquidation in October last year - will be placed on the auctioneer's block for the second time on Saturday, July 29.
The owner of the hotel, Lorrian van Vuuren, had made a last-ditch attempt to save the hotel after the last auction - held on February 21 - did not produce successful bidders, but his efforts failed, too, after the financiers backed out of the deal.
Rael Levitt, auctioneer for Auction Alliance, told Travel Now that his instructions from the liquidators, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, had merely been to sell the hotel and he had not put a price limit on the sale.
A spokesperson at Parkes Manor said the occupancy rate was "considerably better" than it had been last month, with more bookings coming in.
"I guess if it doesn't sell this time - although we're confident it will - the liquidators will continue to run the hotel as normal until buyers can be found."
The property will be auctioned as a going concern. The historic manor house has National Monument status.
(Adéle Mackenzie)
