Tauranga's tourism and accommodation industries are furious a clash of two major events is "set in concrete" for one of the busiest weekends of the year and say the situation will embarrass the city by forcing guests out of town.
The first weekend of January 2012 will see the annual Port of Tauranga Half Ironman held at the same time as the North Island Colgate Games, an athletics event for children aged 5 to 18.
The half ironman, which is traditionally held in the first weekend of January, will celebrate its 23rd year in 2012 and is expected to bring thousands to the city. Entries open mid-May and based on previous years will fill within an hour.
Meanwhile, the Colgate Games, which is held in a different city each year, will bring up to 6000 athletes, parents and supporters to the city for the event at the athletics track at Tauranga Domain.
Tauranga/Mount Maunganui Moteliers Association president Lloyd Stone said the event clash was going to mean "egg on our face for Tauranga" as accommodation providers were unable to meet demand on what was already a very busy weekend.
"I think it's going to create an embarrassment for Tauranga, it just seems ridiculous. We want to provide accommodation, not send people away."
Mr Stone said the issue was brought to local moteliers' attention about six months ago but he had been told since been told the date for the Colgate Games was "set in concrete" as the event had already been advertised. "I feel as though I'm hitting my head against a brick wall trying to do something about it."
Mr Stone said the first weekend of January already occasionally saw moteliers faced with sending guests out of town and it just seemed more logical to separate the two major events "rather than squeeze them into one weekend".
He said the issue may be discussed at today's inaugural Tourism Advisory Group meeting organised by Tourism Bay of Plenty acting general manager Glenn Ormsby.
Mr Ormsby said a lot of people had tried, "really, really hard" to get the Colgate Games moved and Tourism Bay of Plenty was "very disappointed" that the event clashed with the half ironman.
"If it could have been done we would have preferred them to be another weekend."
Mr Ormsby said he wrote a letter to Athletics New Zealand hoping they could get the games moved.
While they were "very sympathetic," the event remained fixed, he said. "We don't need events held that weekend, we've got a good event there now."
The main thing Tourism BOP was worried about was the accommodation, he said.
"That's the critical issue. I'm not quite sure where they'll find their accommodation."
Meanwhile, Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby was confident the city could cater for the two events.
"We made, through Tourism BOP, an inquiry into shifting the date for the Colgate Games. That was unable to be achieved. Therefore it's really for both events to work through it with the accommodation sector, personally I think it can be achieved."
Mr Crosby said he had spoken to local organisers of the Colgate Games who indicated their guests would be prepared to travel and be hosted in more modest accommodation.
He said accommodation providers from Katikati to the other side of Te Puke were options as well as private home and marae hosting. "They're not all going to stay at the Sebel."
Mr Crosby said the clash was unfortunate but the city wanted as many events here as possible. He said it was "great" Tauranga's new all weather athletics track was going to be used for an event like the Colgate Games.
"It's basically a one-off clash and we're just going to, as a city, manage our way through it."
- Athletics New Zealand did not return calls from the Bay of Plenty Times this morning.
