Many visitors heading to Port Elizabeth for the hugely anticipated Isuzu Ironman 70.3 World Championship in two weeks’ time are frantically searching for accommodation after finding there is no room at the inn.
While the international triathlon is set to be a big financial boon for the city, a vast number of fully booked hotels, guesthouses and other accommodation establishments say they are having to turn people away.
Desperate accommodationseekers are taking to social media as a final resort, asking friends to help in their quest for a bed for the weekend of September 1 and 2.
Some are even being directed to neighbouring towns such as Jeffreys Bay.
With approximately 4,500 athletes from more than 100 global qualifying events – along with an anticipated 12,000 additional visitors – set to descend on the city, people in the hospitality industry say that while being fully booked is a good thing, they have had to turn many people away due to the influx.
An employee at the Boardwalk Hotel, who was not authorised to speak to the media, confirmed the five-star establishment was chock-a-block with Ironman contestants for the weekend.
“We are completely fully booked,” she said.
Other major hotels such as The Paxton, The Kelway, Protea by Marriott and Summerstrand Hotel are also booked out.A Booking.com search on Google for the weekend of September 1 and 2, on average for two adults, shows 98% of the accommodation in the Bay is reserved, with availability mostly about 20km away from the city centre.
A search of Airbnb – an online hospitality marketplace listing short-term lodgings at holiday cottages, apartments and the like – had only around 150 units still available.
Lalapanzi Guest Lodge in Humewood owner William Duckitt, who has had his eight units booked out months in advance, said: “All my units have been booked out by foreigners.
“These athletes are professionals and once they have their dates for these kinds of events, they book their accommodation immediately.
“These kinds of events are usually so fantastic for the city and the hospitality industry, but I have had to turn down several people looking for accommodation in the Summerstrand and Humewood area.
“The Ironman 70.3 is the second-largest event Africa has had in comparison to the World Cup, and now the concentration of people in the city will be higher.
“It is taking place over a shorter period of time, so the demand for accommodation would be higher but that also means everybody, from the vendor on the corner to the car guards, will benefit,” he said.
Garden Gate Guest House in Newton Park manager Linky Crous said the establishment had been getting bookings since January and by mid-June was booked out.
“All these events are fantastic for the city and, of course, for all the guest houses and hotels.
“It is something we look forward to – especially for Ironman events, we get a lot of people from overseas.”
Guest House Locums manager Sharon Cornish said while its establishments were fully booked, she was aware of people who were looking to revamp their cottages to rent out.
“Our bookings came in from February for Ironman, which is an amazing thing – as a city hosting the Ironman, that is something we can be proud of.
“A friend of mine said she is going to buy furniture for her flat at the back of her home to be able to accommodate people for Ironman.
“It is very exciting having this influx of people visit our beautiful city,” she said.
Shena Wilmot, chair of the Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association (Pembba), which is the official representative organisation for more than 100 establishments, said: “I don’t think people are likely to find anything in the Humewood and Summerstrand area, but people will certainly find something beyond there, and the easiest way is for people to visit our website and get in touch with available guesthouses which still have rooms.
“It is an exceptional thing for our accommodation establishments to be booked up like this,” she said. Ironman South Africa media and communications specialist Siya Ndzimande said the organisation had anticipated the influx and applauded how the people of the Bay had come together to show support.
“At this late stage, most contestants have secured accommodation, but the people of Port Elizabeth have come together and have made sure that the athletes and their supporters have accommodation.”
Big Mouth Entertainment owner Ranique Roberts, who is hosting The Big Five Comedy
Show starring the likes of Jason Goliath and Kurt Schoonraad on August 31, was among those who, as a last resort, asked friends on Facebook for help.
Roberts, who has the comedians and DJ Ready D performing in PE, was able to find accommodation earlier this week but said it had got to a point where she jokingly told them to pack camping equipment.
“They all understood the situation because it is Ironman.
“I was very worried and stressed out, but it worked out in the end. I got amazing support from the people on Facebook who tried to help, which was great because that’s how PE people are – they show up for you. I eventually got accommodation through Pembba.”
The city’s executive director of sports, recreation, arts and culture, Noxolo Nqwazi, said it was all systems go for the event.
“The city is ready to host Ironman. We expected the influx and can confirm that PE is now full and visitors are taking up home-stays and being redirected to Jeffreys Bay.
“Most athletes and visitors are getting accommodation through Airbnb, which has over 900 listed establishments.
“This affirms our position as a city of triathlon, but we are excited about the economic impact for the Eastern Cape.”