Tauranga moteliers have had to refer clients to Matamata and Rotorua as accommodation spills over this holiday period.
Tauranga Moteliers Association president and Bethlehem Motor Inn owner Lloyd Stone said having to refer holidaymakers out of town at this time of year wasn't unusual as the odd night saw all association
motels full.
Accommodation providers report steady summer business as they prepare for Saturday's 21st Port of Tauranga Half-Ironman.
Rae and Ken Whittle, owners of Boat Shed Motel Apartments in Mount Maunganui, said activities in the Bay were resulting in good business for moteliers. Mrs Whittle said they had crew from yesterday's Thundercat National Surfcross competition staying, as well as competitors from the sprint stock cars at Baypark.
Business had been "steady" but holidaymakers weren't staying as long as last year, generally cutting their stay from one to two weeks to two to three nights.
"It could be the economy. I think people have still got the money, they're just scared to spend it ... Some have said they'll wait until it quietens down [in Mount Maunganui] and come back, which suits us," she said.
Overall, they had experienced
a good run with a month-long booking for three English people in March.
A company had also tried to book for two months but Mrs Whittle said they were too busy to accommodate them.
This weekend's half-ironman is open to 1200 entrants, with individual entries selling out in 66 minutes and teams in less than three hours.
