Rotorua moteliers hoping for more bookings

Despite this summer's regular rain hampering many people's holiday plans, Rotorua accommodation providers have remained steady.

While overall bookings have been down, many people who had planned camping holidays instead booked themselves into motels, says Rotorua Association of Motels chairwoman Fiona Suurenbroek from the Cedarwood Lakeside Resort.

She said the summer rain had put off some domestic travellers but others had simply changed plans.

"We have picked up the travellers who have been camping and have decided to change their plans due to the weather.

"International visitors already have their itinerary sorted prior to leaving home so they have made the best of it, however the domestic market has seen cancellations or early departures due to the weather."

Mrs Suurenbroek said bookings made this summer had tended to be last-minute.

"I'm sure people are waiting to see how the weather pans out ... the international visitor has just made the best of what they get on a day to day basis."

Officially there were only two weeks of summer left and moteliers were hoping for plenty more bookings, Mrs Suurenbroek said.

"Numbers are down on the same time last year and there has been a noticeable drop off since schools have returned and the long weekends are over. We are not getting the number of forward bookings that we have been used to during the summer months."

Holdens Bay Top 10 Holiday Park owner Keri Steele said the rain hadn't prompted many cancellations but there were fewer forward bookings.

"People haven't been booking in advance, they want to see the forecast before they decide what to do."

Rotorua Family Holiday Park in Ngongotaha owner Willie Wright said it wasn't just the weather which was causing the shift in attitudes to bookings. "It is understandable. Money is tighter and people don't want to book a holiday and then go somewhere when the weather isn't nice."

Mr Wright said the holiday park had remained steady throughout summer thanks to advance bookings by groups.

"You do have to wait and see sometimes. You can check the bookings in the morning and there won't be any but by the end of the day you can be almost fully booked."

Yesterday morning the MetService issued a severe thunderstorm warning for eight areas of the North Island including Rotorua, Taupo and the Bay of Plenty.

Heavy showers with rainfall reaching up to 40mm were expected to drench all eight regions which could cause flash flooding and lead to slips. The service warned driving conditions could be hazardous due to surface flooding and poor visibility.