HINERANGI VAIMOSO
VISITORS would be hard pressed to find any accommodation in Hawke's Bay before Thursday next week thanks to a manic events calendar over Easter.
Hawaiian singer/songwriter Jack Johnson touches down in Napier on Saturday for a one-off concert at Church Road Winery.
Johnson's credentials scored him a sold out concert, all
9000 tickets selling out within 48 hours of going on-sale.
The popularity of the Easter Highland Games is enduring and Hastings' Lindisfarne College will stage some of Scotland's oldest sporting past times.
Event co-ordinator Rob Mortenson said about 1000 people are set to stop into town for the event, including folk from the South Island and a group of bagpipers who have come from Scotland for the special occasion.
The Napier Performing Arts Society starts its 100th anniversary bash tonight with a concert at the Century Theatre in Napier.
About 500 competitors and supporters are expected to make the trip across the country, and organisers are hoping they have booked accommodation well in advance.
While the preceding events have attracted significant numbers, the test cricket between the Black Caps and England seemed to have topped them all with nearly 6000 out of a possible 10,000 tickets sold as of yesterday.
The Barmy Army prepared well, booking accommodation well ahead leaving the typically laid back Kiwi supporters on the back foot and scrambling to find last minute beds.
All 140 rooms at Scenic Circle's Te Pania Hotel are booked until next Wednesday, the 20 units at Cumberland Motor Lodge in Hastings are full, the 27 rooms on the luxurious waterfront Crown Hotel in Napier are booked with 95 per cent of its guests flying the English flag.
The Shoreline Motel on Marine Parade is also full until next Thursday.
Rodney Green, owner of the Quality Inn in Napier, Apple Motor Inn in Hastings and the popular Bluewater Hotel in Ahuriri said all rooms at all three locations were fully booked.
"We're all very, very busy which is great for Hawke's Bay.
"It's been a very good four months which has brought some great weather and great business," Mr Green said.
Mr Green said it was a shame all the events were on in the same weekend as Easter regulars to the Bay miss out on accommodation due to exceptionally early planning from cricket fans.
