‘Not financially able to do it’: WA travel booking business Aussie Holiday Stays announces sudden closure

A WA holiday booking platform has been forced to shut down after eight years with its bid to take on the national market running out of financial runway.

Aussie Holiday Stays — formerly known as WA HomeStay — was founded in 2018 with the aim of creating a cheaper, locally owned alternative to the major accommodation booking platforms.

The platform charged guests a 5 per cent booking fee — compared with up to 20 per cent charged by other services — while promising better cash flow for accommodation owners.

Founder and chief executive Amanda Walker had hoped to take the WA business national but the expansion proved too costly.

In a statement posted to Instagram on Sunday, Ms Walker said the company had been unable to secure the funding needed to continue developing a national booking platform.

“We wanted to send an email to thank everyone for their support of our dream over the last eight years,” she said.

“Unfortunately, over the last few months it has become clear that we do not have the runway to continue to push for a national booking platform.”

Ms Walker previously told the Canning Gazette the business was founded on the belief a local booking platform could be fairer to both owners and guests while giving back to the WA community and promoting sustainable tourism.

“We are different because we only charge guests 5 per cent booking fee, compared to others that charge up to 20 per cent,” she said.

“We believe a local booking platform is fairer to both owners and guests as it gives back to the WA community and promotes sustainable tourism at the same time.”

But as the company worked towards its national expansion, the cost and complexity of integrating with different property management systems became a major hurdle.

“We haven’t been taking reservations or advertising while we have been building to the different PMS,” she said.

Ms Walker said there had been strong support for an Australian-based booking platform, but the logistics of connecting to different systems ultimately proved too expensive.

“Although there is a huge amount of support for an Australian based booking platform, the logistics of connecting to different PMS meant we were not financially able to do it,” she said.

The business had aimed to provide better cash flow for accommodation owners while keeping more tourism spending within WA.

Ms Walker was previously recognised at The Australian Business Awards as one of WA’s leading entrepreneurs under 40 for her work with the booking platform.

She also ran the business through the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel was severely impacted.

In her Instagram post, Ms Walker thanked customers who had supported the business and its expansion plans.

“We were blown away by your belief in us and your willingness to support us with your houses or reservations,” she said.

“Thank you and keep supporting those that are willing to give things a go.”