WORDS JAMES WILKINSON IN AUCKLAND
Australia has seen what impact a major sporting event can have on a country several times in the last decade – with the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, 2003 Rugby World Cup and Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games – and in late 2011, New Zealand will experience a phenomenon like no other.
New Zealand will host the 2011 Rugby World Cup and hotels right across the land of the long white cloud will see room rates and occupancy lift, potentially, to rates not seen since the Americas Cup was held in Auckland during 2000 and 2003, and the Lions rugby tour of 2005.
From the smallest lodges to the largest CBD hotels, spirits are already high amongst General Managers on the expectations of this massive event.
“It is going to be an amazing couple of months for New Zealand, never before has the country received such phenomenal international sporting exposure,” said Quadrant Hotel Auckland General Manager Edward Judd.
“The hotel is definitely going to be busy in September and October 2011, especially when pool matches are played at Eden Park and the North Harbour Stadium and demand will definitely culminate mid-October for the semi-finals and finals,” he told HM.
Leading up to the Rugby World Cup, Judd said the 250-room hotel was completing a re-fresh program that would have the property ready for the expected influx of international and domestic visitors.
For the full story, see the June 2010 edition of HM magazine.