Logjam frustrates moteliers
Timaru moteliers Terry and Karen Wright are calling on local authorities to take more control of major events after the region’s hospitality industry was overwhelmed during a bumper weekend.
Their concerns follow a bustling three days in South Canterbury as hospitality businesses were stretched to breaking point in trying to accommodate thousands of people who converged on the region for multiple events.
The Wrights manage Aspen on King motels and said they had to turn away customers as they were fully booked due to the South Island Colgate Games, the New Zealand Superbikes Championship, the Tour of Timaru speed skate event, an ocean swim and a lily show.
They have been in the industry for 20 years, having previously managed motels in Taupo, Rotorua, Whitianga, Christchurch, Auckland and Melbourne.
‘‘It’s pretty much consistent around the country in terms of the same issue with local authorities,’’ Terry Wright said.
‘‘Too many events on the one weekend. The councils need to accommodate events a bit better.’’
He said tourists were calling in daily over the summer months wanting accommodation and were being forced to look further afield as a consequence.
‘‘This is a national matter as other centres we have worked in have the same issue.
‘‘It’s down to council managed venues, and local authorities have to manage how and when events are conducted.’’
He suggested local authorities show more muscle in dealing with promoters.
‘‘The councils and ratepayers own the facilities so surely the ratepayer’s welfare should be considered.’’
The couple suggested staggering events around the summer months.
South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce chief executive Wendy Smith said it would be an ideal scenario to have major events staggered more consistently across the year.
‘‘I think ideally everybody would like to see events staggered across the year to maintain maximum occupancy.
‘‘People are having to go further afield and when you look at the statistics for January and February, people are having to frequently book out of town.’’
But Smith said there was no easy solution.
‘‘Not all events have the luxury to pick their weekends whether it’s motor racing or athletics because some of them are locked into the national and international calendar, or when their teams of volunteers or managers have the ability to run the event.’’
Timaru’s Central Business District chairman Nigel Bowen said he understood where the Wrights were coming from.
‘‘In an ideal world we would want events staggered but it’s just a bit hard with national and international sporting bodies.
‘‘I do have concerns, there has to be more communication between interest groups.
‘‘We all have to be singing from the same songsheet.’’
Timaru District Council’s group manager community services, Sharon Taylor, in a statement, said the council was ‘‘working hard to ensure Timaru is the destination of choice for sporting and cultural events...’’.
‘‘Summer is always going to be busy, particularly with sporting events, and although we can advise those running those events about the busy weeks and stress the importance for their attendees to book accommodation, if the venue is available we’re not going to refuse a booking.’’