By JAMES WILKINSON
Melbourne’s major hotels have reported no damage following last night’s (Jun 19) 5.3 magnitude earthquake that struck just before 9pm local time.
When contacted by HM this morning (Jun 20), properties in the Accor, Best Western, Choice, Crown, Hilton and Langham portfolios all reported no damage or evacuations at their hotels across the CBD as a result of the earthquake which had an epicenter 10 kilometres southwest of Moe in Melbourne’s Latrobe Valley, 136 kilometres from the city.
The tremor struck at a depth of 9.9 kilometres and is the largest to hit the state of Victoria in 100 years.
While city hotels were undamaged and operating as normal, Choice Hotels’ Comfort Inn at Moe has reported minor damage of the quake that shook the town at the epicenter for up to 60 seconds.
“Comfort Inn Moe had some cornices break and have hairline cracks in their walls,” Choice Hotels Australasia’s Manager of Regional Market and Public Relations, Suzanne O’Bree, told HM.
“We are glad to report there has been no severe damage or injuries caused,” she said.
The largest operator of hotels in the state, Accor, reported no damage at any of the chain’s 40 properties.
“We are very pleased to say that no Accor hotels were badly affected during yesterday’s quake, although some properties did report feeling rumbling under the ground or a little bit of shaking,” Accor’s Regional General Manager for Victoria, Scott Boyes, told HM.
“The important thing is that all our guests and staff are safe and thankfully all our hotels are operating as normal.”
At The Langham Melbourne, “all guests had an enchanting uninterrupted stay” said Managing Director, Ben Sington.
It was a similar case at Hilton’s two Melbourne properties, according to the company’s head of Public Relations, Charlotte Seymour.
“Hilton Melbourne South Wharf and Hilton on the Park – Melbourne did not need to evacuate or suffer any damage as a result of last night’s earth quake in Melbourne,” she told HM. “Both properties are operating as normal.”
Best Western Australasia’s Marketing Communications Manager, Hansni Bhagani, said “all of our properties reported no damages and no injuries”, while at Crown at Southbank, Public Relations Manager Tara Bishop said there was no damage to the complex.