Hoteliers are finding it difficult to predict hotel occupancies over the FIFA World Cup, saying a lot will depend on last-minute bookings and pricing, especially
by the airlines.
 
At least one of South Africa’s biggest hotel groups is in discussion with local carriers about the high fares being charged, which it is feared may discourage fans from attending.
 
“We just hope the airlines will come to the party,” says Susanne Faussner-Ringer, md of Greenways Hotel in Cape Town. She says hoteliers are cautiously optimistic because they are hoping for a last-minute run on rooms. 
 
Meanwhile, Willie Williams, sales and marketing manager of the Sheraton Pretoria, says the hotel is not contracted to MATCH but is receiving daily enquiries for World Cup accommodation, “but we find that people are experiencing a snowball effect in that they need game and airline tickets first before they are able to book rooms.” He says bookings for peak match days are looking excellent but there is still availability for the periods in between.
 
Danny Bryer, Protea Hotels’ marketing, sales and revenue management manager,
says demand during the World Cup is difficult to predict because the market is so volatile but he believes major centres such as Johannesburg and Cape Town will be full for the duration of the tournament, while other cities will be full for some of the time.
 
Sean Bradley, director of sales and marketing at the Radisson Blu Sandton, says most of the hotel’s 290 rooms are booked with deposits paid for the entire World Cup period, but that some of its 11 penthouses are still available. The hotel has not gone the MATCH route either but has stuck with key business partnerships. He says its rates for the World Cup are “slightly higher” than normal, but “realistic”.