$1600 a night World Cup B&B for sale

The Eden Park Bed and Breakfast, which quoted $1600 a night for Rugby World Cup accommodation, is being sold

The Auckland bed and breakfast that quoted a Yorkshire woman NZ$1600 a night for a room during the Rugby World Cup, is being put up for sale.

Eden Park Bed and Breakfast owner Anthony McAnulty said after "much debate" he had decided to sell the property and "move on with other events in our lives".

McAnulty faced a flood of criticism when it was revealed he had quoted Jacqui Marsden NZ$1600 per night for a minimum 10 night stay in his bed and breakfast following an email enquiry in April.

The quote prompted an outcry from industry leaders who warned hoteliers and renters looking to make a quick buck had the potential to harm the nation's reputation.

At the time McAnulty said he must have put the wrong number on an email to Marsden, but declined to say what the correct price was.

McAnulty and his wife Marlene purchased the Bellwood Ave property, which incorporates four guest bedrooms, for $200,000 in 1989.

The property was built in the early 1900s, has an estimated market value of $905,000 and a land area of 562m2.

McAnulty said the property offered a great deal and good cashflow to a prospective buyer, in a post on his website.

"It's not often you have a neighbourhood that contains Eden Park Rugby Stadium, host to the 2011 Rugby World Cup and other events that will cement its place in New Zealand sporting history."

"Rumour has it that we may even see the Wellington Sevens Rugby Tournement (sic) become the Auckland Sevens and will the Warriors Rugby League Team be based at Eden Park rather than Mt Smart?"

"These two options are unresolved at the moment but does offer good prospects for the future."

When asked when the property was placed on the market, Marlene McAnulty said it wasn't yet, but would be in July.

When asked why they had put on the property on the market, Marlene referred nzherald.co.nz to her husband, who refused to answer any questions.

Marsden said she expected much hard work, endeavour and entrepreneurial spirit has gone into the business.

"That said if the reflections and debates of the McAnultys have in any way been influenced by the exposure of their business plan for the Rugby World Cup which - in my opinion - was based at best on optimism, at worst on potential exploitation, then I have no regrets in sharing details of my experience."

"I read a quote from Mr McAnulty at the time of the publicity, which if I remember correctly was that business for the World Cup was about 'position, position, position'. I prefer my own business philosophy of 'Integrity, Integrity, Integrity."

Marsden said it was interesting the Rugby World Cup packages had now been removed from the bed and breakfast's website.