Local accommodation ready for Lions tour

The Rotorua International Stadium was filled to capacity when the Lions played their first match of the 2005 tour in Rotorua. PHOTO/FILE

Rotorua is looking to cash in on the upcoming Lions rugby tour with about 85 per cent of hotel rooms already booked and other accommodation providers saying their advance bookings are looking great.

About 20,000 British and Irish Lions supporters are expected to travel to New Zealand for this year's much-anticipated tour.

The Maori All Blacks play the Lions at Rotorua International Stadium on June 17 and ticket sales for the match look like they will sell out well before kick-off.

Rotorua's accommodation providers said it was a welcome boost with the tour taking place during the quiet part of the year.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa regional chairman for Rotorua hotels Blair Chalmers said many of the bigger hotels had blocked-booked rooms, "so it does not necessarily mean all of those rooms have been sold".

"But we are looking at around 80 to 90 per cent capacity right now and this is very healthy for the local economy."

He said tourists from the United Kingdom often spent well while on holiday.

"They love all the activities, dining and drinking and generally have a really good time.

"It's all good for us, but I don't think we'll see people living on the streets, so June will be a strong month for us in 2017."

Owner of the Rotorua TOP 10 Holiday Park and chairwoman of Rotorua Holiday Accommodation Parks New Zealand, Jasmine Adams, said all of Rotorua's holiday parks were preparing for the tour.

"The majority of our rooms are fully booked already, but we do have tent sites available and we expect them to be sold out by them.

"It's our quietest period for our sector so it's awesome to have a big event in the middle of that time."

Mrs Adams said most of the bookings were for two or three days and she and husband Jared said they expected "the same madness" that happened last time the Lions were here.

They said a large group of Lions fans had booked all of their rooms more than a year ago.

Rotorua Association of Motels chairman Mike Gallagher said his sites were almost fully booked for the tour.

"We are due to have a meeting about this in February, so I'm not really sure how busy everyone else will be."

He said everyone was looking forward to a mid-winter boost and Rotorua needed to be prepared and ready to promote the city so tourists come to stay either side of the big match.

"A lot of people from the UK will be making this a trip of a lifetime and have been saving for it for years."

According to New Zealand Rugby head of public affairs Ian Long only general admission tickets are available for the Rotorua match with all category A and B tickets sold out.

Destination Rotorua chief executive Michelle Templer said there was a lot of excitement building for the "unofficial fourth test here in Rotorua".

"It's positive to hear that some of Rotorua's accommodation providers are starting to reach capacity, but we want to assure people that there is still accommodation available in Rotorua.

"We do however recommend that people who plan to visit over this period consider purchasing tickets and booking accommodation and some of our great activities and attractions early to avoid disappointment.

"Rotorua is well placed to benefit from the tournament schedule which sees the Lions play here on June 17, followed by games in neighbouring Hamilton on June 20, Auckland on June 24 and Wellington on June 27."

British and Irish Lions
- Play the Maori All Blacks on June 17 in Rotorua
- Last visit was in 2005 when they played the Bay of Plenty
- About 85 per cent of Rotorua's hotel rooms have been booked already
- Accommodation providers looking forward to a mid-year boost
- Only general admission tickets are available for the match