"The half Ironmans, the Tinmans, that sort of thing are really good for us, especially the half Ironman where the athletes have trained for quite a while and once they've finished the race they like to have a beer and a good feed.
"It's not just the athletes involved, it's all the managers and coaches as well, they're always very good."
Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby said the two national events were a great way for Tauranga to start the New Year.
"And I'm sure the half ironman will have some national stars as well."
He said the events would attract people of all ages to the region and be great for the economy.
"We need a little boost at the moment".
Owner of Mount Maunganui's Cafe 88 Joel Byrne said his business did well from the sale of takeaway coffees to supporters during major sporting events.
"It's good just to bring more people into the city for sure."
Owner of Tauranga gift shop Fancy That Frances Campbell said large events, particularly those attracting families, did not always translate into bumper sales.
"When they have big events like that, it doesn't bring extra shoppers usually, that's the perception that people have and especially the people that run the events. We've been here over three years and we've found our business does not increase when we have an event."
However, if events were male-orientated they could attract a few more shoppers, she said.
"If there's an event for men they'll do that and the women will have a run around the shops."
Meanwhile, Tauranga/Mount Maunganui Moteliers Association president and owner of Bethlehem Motor Inn, Lloyd Stone, said local moteliers were frustrated both events had been held on one of the busiest weekends of the year.
"It's just been really busy which is obviously really good but it's the planning that bothers us."
He said potential customers were disappointed and he was referring Colgate Games athletes and supporters to Matamata to try to find accommodation but had found the same difficulty there.
Mr Stone said next weekend was "much more free" and the clash was ridiculous.
Owner of Tauranga's Roselands Motel Tony Burrell said they had been forced to turn away guests, despite his motel being around the corner from the athletics track at Tauranga Domain. Those staying at Roselands Motel included Colgate Games participants, Port of Tauranga Half athletes and Maritime New Zealand staff.
Mr Burrell said the two major events should not have been planned for the same weekend, especially when events like HRV cricket games, Thundercat racing and speedway were also on this week.
Mr Burrell blamed the council for making the track available to Athletics New Zealand on the same weekend as the half.
"It shouldn't have even been made available.
"It's ridiculous, next Saturday I've got two bookings.
"We have turned away so many people and so many people have been extremely disappointed."
Mr Burrell checked the reservation list of all the Western Bay motels who were members of the Motel Association of New Zealand on Wednesday.
There were three units available tonight and tomorrow night in the Western Bay. The following Friday and Saturday there were more than 200 units available in the region.
Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Glenn Ormsby said the organisation tried to get the Colgate Games moved by Athletics New Zealand.
"There's wasn't another option as far as I am aware."
He did not want to see the situation repeated.
"We certainly don't want the events clashing like this again. Certainly not the major events anyway."
With accommodation at a premium, Mr Ormsby said Colgate Games competitors had been forced to stay out of town.
Manager of Westhaven Motel on Pilot Bay Tracy Macleod said six of the nine units were booked by ironman competitors and the remaining three by regular visitors who were booked from December 26 until after the Ironman.
Ms McLeod said the events clash did not bother her at all.
"We have our same ones come back every year, they've been coming for years."
