RELEASE GAMES ROOMS

HOTELS RISK OUR REPUTATION

CITY leaders are imploring hotels to release all their rooms for the Commonwealth Games today as visitors find out which events they will receive tickets for.

More than 1.2 million ticket applications were received for next April’s events, with applicants expected to flood booking websites looking for accommodation for the days they’ll be in the city.

Key booking site Wotif has been displaying a “95 per cent booked” notification on Games-time inquiries all year.

But tourism bosses believe many of the Coast’s 30,000 rooms are in fact still available.

Tourism, Major Events and the Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said ticket ballot winners would be booking accommodation and flights over coming days and weeks.

“It will be a busy time for accommodation providers and we need them to put their best foot forward, place their rooms on the market and price them appropriately,” she said.

“I’m confident the majority of accommodation providers will do the right thing.”

Games organisers will today reveal more information about who has successfully applied for tickets and where visitors will be travelling from.

Gold Coast Tourism chair Paul Donovan said the city was well equipped to handle big events. “We know from experience the people who book for events early are high-yield visitors so smart operators will ensure they have rooms available for this surge of interest,” he said.

Mayor Tom Tate said the city’s reputation was at stake.

“Fair pricing is what I encourage and I’m confident business will respond,” he said.

More than 1.2 million people are expected to attend the Gold Coast 2018 Games, along with 6600 athletes and team officials from 70 nations and territories.

Earlier this year, Gold Coast Tourism vowed to go after “misleading” booking sites after high-profile hotels were advertised more than 10 times the actual rate over the Commonwealth Games.