He expected a mix of domestic visitors, particularly those from Auckland who had been exposed to the Famously Rotorua marketing campaign, but said there were also many overseas visitors in town.
Mr Brownrigg said accommodation was starting to get tight in some areas, but there were still rooms available.
Rotorua Association of Motels chairman Barry Mabey said most motels were full or had reasonably heavy bookings - and he expected them to be putting up the "no vacancy" signs before the weekend was over.
People often didn't bother booking, he said. "We will have people arriving on Saturday looking for accommodation."
Mr Mabey said they'd be running a duty motel roster, including his Pohutu Lodge, which would help people find available rooms.
Meanwhile, Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams said Rotorua had "got quite lucky" with the weekend weather. "It looks like [the bad weather] will hit right at the end of Monday."
Mr Adams said the pick of the weekend days would be tomorrow.
However, he said people should keep up to date with the forecasts.
Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Darrin Walsh advised businesses to make the most of the holiday weekend. "Be proactive, get your business out there, market wisely and have eye-catching window displays."
Stay safe on roads, police urge drivers
If you're travelling away or staying locally this weekend the message is to stay safe on the region's roads.
Police plan to have a high visibility presence on the roads over the weekend and would be actively encouraging drivers to concentrate and make sensible decisions says Bay of Plenty road policing manager Inspector Kevin Taylor.
"The Bay of Plenty is a beautiful place so whether you're staying here, visiting or just passing through, enjoy it, don't rush it."
He said motorists in the Rotorua area needed to be aware of cyclists taking part in the inaugural Tour of the Bay of Plenty this weekend.
Approximately 300 cyclists will be riding from Rotorua to Matata on Saturday, around Lake Rotorua on Sunday and from Rotorua through the Waikite Valley on Monday.
He said the speed thresholds would be at the normal holiday threshold, so anyone who drove more than 4km/h over the permanent posted speed limit could expect to be ticketed.
The NZ Transport Agency's Harry Wilson, said planning before leaving home, together with careful and considerate driving would help people reach their destinations safely.
"Extra traffic on the road can make driving stressful and more risky, which is why we are urging people to be patient, relax, and enjoy the journey."
Mr Wilson said over the past five years, 11 people had died and another 31 were seriously injured in Labour Weekend crashes on roads in Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
Safe travel tips
*Before hitting the road, take the time to check your vehicle is safe - check the tyres, indicators and lights.
*Allow plenty of time for travel - slow down and make the journey part of the holiday
*Take regular breaks from driving to avoid fatigue
*Avoid the busiest peak periods when highways are congested
