Hamilton rooms run out as Fieldays and FIFA collide

Published on Stuff.co.nz and in the Waikato Times

A collision of Fieldays and football is putting the squeeze on accommodation prices in Hamilton, with visitors paying up to triple the usual price for a room next month.

Available rooms during the National Agricultural Fieldays, which run June 10-13, are always scarce as tens of thousands of visitors linked to the farming sector look for a bed. But extra pressure has been piled on by the Fifa U-20s football matches, which start on May 30 and overlap the event with six matches, including a quarter final on June 14.

Hamilton's i-SITE website shows that three of 57 accommodation providers listed have space on June 11, the day of the first round of Fifa playoffs.

A two-bedroom family apartment at Cedar Lodge Motel - the last space available - was going for $440, or $300 above the winter rate. The room was snapped up by 1pm Wednesday.

Bed and breakfast at Abbots Hamilton would normally cost $99 a night for two, but Fieldays weekend, you'll pay $369.

Neither the Cedar Lodge Motel or Abbots Hamilton could not be contacted for comment.

Motel Six and The Narrows Landing Hotel confirmed over the phone that they were fully booked for Fieldays, and had been for quite some time but could not offer any price ranges that were being paid for that period.

Waikato Motel Association president and Ulster Lodge Motel owner Narinder Sagoo said increased prices during high-profile events was normal practice worldwide. His rooms started around the $250 mark for the football-Fieldays week.

"In any demand-type of business, like if you're flying in peak times, there are different rates that apply. I wouldn't want anyone to be overcharging, but it is nothing untoward."

He said Fieldays' visitors tended to book rooms a year ahead.

"What generally happens is people who came last year rebook in the same place. There is always a shortage of accommodation."

But ironically, people can also get a room for free.

Hamilton City Council has stepped in with a Home Host programme, where people can be billeted in pre-arranged homes for free. Co-ordinator Andrea Fitness said the scheme was aimed to ensure everyone was accommodated.

"We've only launched this programme 10 days ago, but we've had about a dozen expressions of interest so far. We absolutely welcome more. It offers a different experience, a Kiwi and Hamilton experience."

Due to the nature of the playoffs, visitors will be looking for a place to stay at the last minute.

"So our hosts are just on standby, really, at the moment. And we are suggesting a donation [for the hosts] along the lines of a koha."

She said the thank you gesture could be in the form of tickets to a game or a meal in one of Hamilton's restaurants.

Sagoo said he liked the Home Hosts programme, but didn't think there would be a massive need for it.

"It's not like the Cricket World Cup, where people are committed to staying in one area the whole day. It's quite conceivable for people to drive into the city from Auckland or Bay of Plenty for a game, and then drive out again."

For details on the Home Host programme, email andrea.fitness@hcc.govt.nz.