Anger at Mission Concert three-night minimum stay

"Check around," is the advice from Venture Hawke's Bay's marketing manager Michael Wan after hearing of one woman's unhappy experience in trying to secure two nights accommodation during what is set to be a sold-out Mission Concert weekend next February.
In a text to Hawke's Bay Today the woman wrote that attempts to secure just two nights accommodation had been difficult as the motels she had tried were setting a three-night minimum over what Napier Motel Association vice president Jenny Cox called "The busiest weekend of the year."
The woman was also unhappy that accommodation rates also went up at that time and that it was probably not a good look for the Hawke's Bay tourism industry.
"It's certainly left a bad taste in my mouth," Sandra Lorimar said.
However, Venture Hawke's Bay's Michael Wan said it was fairly standard practice, anywhere in the country, for accommodation providers to raise their charges for what was a premium time of the year.
The three-night minimum was an arrangement many accommodation providers put together at premium times, although not all.
"It is all driven by market demand," he said, adding that a growing number of out-of-towners sought out private accommodation to get around the three-night stance.
"Many residents rent their houses out at rates lower than motels during Mission weekend - it's a case of people checking around."
Mrs Cox said because of the heavy demand it was a difficult weekend to manage bookings.
"But nobody is being forced to stay three nights," she said.
If people were unhappy with that idea they simply had to keep looking around.
"We have had many of the same people coming back here for eight years - it's no problem for them."
Send your feedback on any accomodation problems with the Mission Concert weekend to editor@hbtoday.co.nz or send a text to 021 980 222.