Auckland’s hotels are fully sold out as Metallica performs at Eden Park, while the world’s largest indigenous education conference continues to draw attendees.
The city’s cultural and events agency, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, said Metallica fans alone are expected to generate around 40,000 visitor nights.
Meanwhile, the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education held at the Aotea Centre this week has attracted 3,800 delegates from across the world, who are expected to contribute an additional 16,000 visitor nights during the five-day event.
Despite the surge in bookings, a hotel association cautions that this does not necessarily indicate a thriving industry overall.
Hotel Council Aotearoa’s strategic director, James Doolan, said that although there have been occasional “fully booked” days in recent years aligned with major events, overall hotel occupancy rates have not yet bounced back to pre-pandemic levels.
“So that means hotels have been doing it tough; moteliers have been mortgaging their properties to stay alive,” he said.
“It’s far too soon to have one good week and for all of us to start acting like all of the problems have been solved.”
“Hotels and motels and restaurants, they’re not only open for one or two days a year; they’re open 365 days a year, including on cold winter weeknights.”
Doolan encourages hosting more concerts at Eden Park and is eagerly anticipating the long-awaited opening of the International Convention Centre in February. However, he emphasised the need for greater investment from both local and central government in marketing efforts to attract major events to Auckland.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s destination director Annie Dundas said the agency aligns with the ambitions of the industry. She also noted that creating a long-term funding solution is important.
To cover the funding shortfall, Dundas said the agency has been depending on temporary funding sources such as the targeted rate supporting city centre development, a budget allocation from Mayor Wayne Brown, and the organisation’s own operational funds.