$30m roaring into town

British and Irish Lions fans set to converge on Wellington are expected to inject $30 million into the regional economy during their week-long stay.

Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (Wreda) estimates that when Saturday’s sold-out test match kicks off at Westpac Stadium, 25,000 visitors will have packed into the capital – about threequarters of them international tourists.

During the Lions’ 2005 visit, some 20,000 people visited Wellington for two matches that were hosted two weeks apart.

Wreda interim chief executive Derek Fry said this year’s week-long schedule would be of tremendous value to the region.

‘‘Back when the series was being planned, we set out to secure back-toback matches for Wellington, and we were delighted with the result.

‘‘Visitors have more time to explore the region, Wellingtonians can enjoy a full week of excitement, and our visitor economy has greater opportunity to benefit.’’

Wellingtonians are gearing up for the event held once every 12 years. It looks set to be the busiest weekend in the city’s history.

Wellington was primed and ready to give fans a memorable and enjoyable experience, Fry said.

‘‘This is an opportunity to create thousands of unofficial Wellington ambassadors, who’ll return home to the United Kingdom and elsewhere, full of tales of the warm welcome they received.’’

One of the biggest winners will be the hospitality sector, which is going to great lengths to ensure fans have a memorable time.

The city’s official family-friendly fan zone will be at Odlins Plaza on Wellington’s waterfront, while an unofficial fan zone has being set up on Queens Wharf by Jamie Williams, chief executive of the Wellington Hospitality Group.

He has invested in two inflatable pubs and a craft beer ambulance to get the party started.

Williams wanted to show the fans that Wellington was unlike other cities they have been to. ‘‘For hospitality staff, the Lions week is the ultimate challenge. Everyone is keen to ensure Wellington stands out in the fans’ memories as being the best stop of their tour.’’

The city isn’t treating the tour as a smash-and-grab but as an opportunity to show what the coolest little capital can do, he said.

His 20 pubs and eateries will have their busiest week, generating between three and five times the normal weekly turnover, and he was employing an extra 100 staff, to work alongside his 460 staff, for the event.

‘‘We have hired two 40-foot refrigerated containers to store additional beer and food in case suppliers are struggling. This means we will have 400 extra kegs available if required, allowing us to control delivery timeframes to our venues.’’ He was expecting to serve two tonnes of fries, pour between 1100 and 1400 kegs of beer, and provide 4000 breakfasts during the week. Across the region, the hospitality and accommodation sectors would naturally prosper, but the impact would be felt much more widely, Fry said. ‘‘From increased orders to regional food and beverage producers, to delivery drivers, retail workers, transport workers, tourism operators, cleaners and much more, this event will put money in the pockets of a huge number of Wellingtonians.’’

More than 1000 temporary jobs would had been created during the the week, which included an extra 300 roles at Westpac Stadium, he added.

‘‘For hospitality staff the Lions week is the ultimate challenge.’’ Jamie Williams Chief executive, Wellington Hospitality Group.