Cruise Ship Camping During 2022 World Cup

Though currently unable to accommodate the amount of guests expected at a World Cup, Qatar has plans to boost its hotel capacity ahead of the 2022 World Cup, and plans to use cruise ships as temporary hotel spaces.

"There are plans to double the supply of rooms in hotels and guest apartments by 2022 to cover the everyday requirements of an economy that is expected to continue growing strongly," the world's governing soccer body said in its official report on the evaluation of the Qatari bid.

Qatar proposes "more than 240 different properties" mostly in the four-star category but also several in the three and five-star category and a few two-star properties, it said.

Qatar to use cruise ship for World Cup accomodation
Reuters
December 6, 2010

Logistical Challenges Create Harsh Reality for Brazil's 2014 World Cup

Brazil is deep in its preparations for the 2014 World Cup. But logistical challenges -- like the amount of hotel rooms in smaller host cities -- remain unsolved.

But holding a World Cup spread out over 12 cities in a continent-sized country will be anything but easy with challenges that include renovating and building stadiums, adhering to World Cup standards and making sure airports around the country are ready to handle the volume of fans, athletes and officials expected for the Copa Mundial.

Some host cities, such as Manaus in the Amazon, have a serious shortage of hotel rooms.

It will be the first World Cup held in Brazil since 1950 and the first in South America since Argentina hosted the event in 1978. In the intervening years, the scope of the event has changed tremendously.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/26/1747820/for-next-world-cup-brazil-gets.html#ixzz0vLYiMiVn

For next World Cup, Brazil gets the ball rolling
The Miami Herald
July 26, 2010

German Team Keep 'Unsafe' Hotel Choice

The German National team has decided to keep with its choice of a World Cup home base in Pretoria, despite recent reports of the hotel not meeting FIFA standards.

South African newspaper The Times reported Friday there are safety fears at the hotel complex because plans for renovation work at the four-star The Velmore Hotel, near Pretoria, were not approved by the relevant authorities.

The hotel has reportedly invested 80 million rand (10.8 million US dollars) to meet the standard required by world football's governing body Fifa.

Germans will stay at 'unsafe' World Cup base
Agence France Presse
April 24, 2010

Some Price Issues Facing Tourists in South Africa

This video from CNN features an interview with Thandiew January-McLean, who is the CEO of South African Tourism. She discusses how her agency is dealing with concerns over local businesses overcharging customers. She claims there is only a minority of hotel owners who have raised their prices exorbitantly.

She also discusses how the country hopes to use the World Cup as leverage to continue to lure tourists after the World Cup is over.


Will South Africa really benefit from World Cup?
CNN
April 14, 2010

FIFA's Hotel Service Ditches 300,000 Reservations Due to Low Demand

The contractor picked by FIFA to supply accommodations and ticketing during the World Cup recently announced that it would no longer need 300,000 bed nights at area hotels that it had booked in anticipation of the crowds coming to see the tournament.

MATCH now holds only 600,000 of the 1.9 million bed nights that it originally reserved for the competition, said Brett Dungan, the executive director of the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa, according to the Johannesburg- based Afrikaans-language newspaper.

Soccer World Cup Agency Dumps 300,000 Bed Nights, Beeld Reports
Bloomberg
April 14, 2010

Price Gouging Widespread in Durban

Officials in Durban have surveyed local hotel accommodations and found that more than half are planning to boost their prices by 50% or more.

This is the second highest in the country after Gauteng with 65 percent, the survey commissioned by South African Tourism has revealed.

"This is not too good," Gerhard Patzer, the chairman of the region's Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa), said last night.

However, Patzer believes that many of the hotels, guest houses and B&Bs charging more than 50 percent of their highest rack rate (the price, inclusive of VAT, charged to the public before any discount) would not get their price.

2010 price gouging in Durban
Daily News
March 31, 2010

One-Quarter of Accommodations Raise Prices 50% or More During World Cup

A recent survey by the Department of Tourism shows that nearly one-quarter of the nation's tourist accommodations are planning to increase their prices by more than 50% during the World Cup.

The survey, which investigated alleged overpricing by accommodation establishments, showed that the remaining 76% of respondents polled raised their prices by under 50%.

Speaking to Business Day Online, Sindiswa Nhlumayo, Deputy Director-General in the department of Tourism says the price increases were expected.

"When you host an event of such magnitude, increases like are expected based on the laws of supply and demand", Nhlumayo said.

South Africa: 2010 Accommodation Marked Up By Over 50 Percent
Business Day
March 26, 2010

Temporary Accommodations Won't Be Built

Temporary accommodations planned near Johannesburg -- including a proposed "container city" made of shipping containers -- will not be built, according to local officials.

Local residents are also objecting to the establishment of a tent city in Waverley.

The City of Joburg intended to pitch 40 tents for 1 500 backpackers in a park in Waverley for fans. Although the campsite is almost fully booked, residents are threatening legal action if it goes ahead.

Brian Miller, chairman of the Waverley, Highlands North Extension and Abbotsford residents' associations, said this was not a Fifa or City of Joburg project, but that of a private commercial company.

He said it had been put out to tender, but the process had been flawed.

World Cup 'tent cities' look doubtful
Independent Online
March 16, 2010

Reservations Underwhelming at Kruger National Park

Reservations for World Cup accommodations at Kruger National Park have been much lower than expected, according to the FIFA-contracted company that is controlling the bookings.

"Very little" of the accommodation previously reserved for Match had been sold, said South African National Parks tourism and marketing manager Glenn Phillips.

So far, through Match, they had about 50 bookings in Skukuza and 16 bookings in three other camps.

Match is a company contracted by Fifa to provide ticketing, accommodation and event information technology for the World Cup.

Only 10% of Kruger's World Cup places booked
Independent Online
March 2, 2010

Tourism Ministry to Investigate Price Hikes During World Cup

Tourism officials are pledging to crack down on any local businesses and hotels caught inflating prices ahead of the World Cup.

Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the South African tourism minister, said: "In recent weeks we have noted allegations that accommodation establishments in the tourism industry are not responsible, and are inflating prices excessively.

"Until now, our impression has been that this is not the case, but we believe it should be investigated and the results of the investigation made public."

An internet search found that a room at a midrange hotel near Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport that would cost R1,145 (£95) on a typical weeknight will be at least a third more expensive during the Word Cup. The investigation follows an inquiry into airlines for alleged price collusion.

South Africa hotels investigated over World Cup price rise claims
Guardian
February 24, 2010

Cape Town Luxury Hotels Booked Nearly Solid for World Cup

Luxury accommodations in Cape Town are almost completely booked during the World Cup.

The Cape Times surveyed a number of establishments in the greater Cape Town area. Results showed high-end hotels to be booked to near capacity, while some middle-ranged establishments stood at between 50 and 70 percent.

The five-star Cape Grace Hotel at the V and A Waterfront is approximately 90 percent booked, with all group bookings taken.

Five-star 2010 accommodation almost full-up
Cape Times
February 16, 2010

'Tent City' Will Have Room for 1,500 Fans

The proposed "Tent City" hotel set to take shape in the Johannesburg suburb of Waverly Park will have room for 1,500 people, including space for 200 people to bring and pitch their own tents. The area is being set up by the City of Johannesburg to offer affordable housing during the World Cup.

The Tent City campsite, which will be erected in Waverley Park neighbourhood in the city's well-heeled northern suburbs, will have space for nearly 1,500 people.

Of these, 1,280 people will be able to rent space in 40 tents that will be subdivided into four- and six-bed all-male, all-female and mixed units, according to the City of Johannesburg website.

Come camp at the World Cup
Independent Online
February 15, 2010

Johannesburg to Build 'Tent City' for World Cup Accommodations

The City of Johannesburg is setting up a "tent city" to act as accommodations during the World Cup.

Tent City, to be erected at Waverley Park, comes hot on the heels of the converted container hotel slated for the Houghton Golf Course.

The facility is set to open from June 4 to July 16, and there are already bookings from countries including Argentina, Denmark, Brazil and Australia.

Joburg tackles high WC prices
The Star
February 15, 2010

Hotels Promise to Keep Rates Standard During World Cup

Operators of bed-and-breakfasts and hotels in FIFA-endorsed accomodation areas have pledged to keep their prices reasonable during the World Cup.

Knysna tourism head Shaun van Eck said the organisation suggested that establishments use summer rates during the World Cup.

"However, many establishments are sticking to their winter rates for the whole period," he said. "We sincerely believe that the World Cup is a long-term opportunity for us to build Knysna... to a top 100 destination in the world. Our approach is definitely a strategy to attract more visitors, and to position Knysna as a value-for-money destination."

Guesthouses promise not to hike prices
Cape Argus
February 4, 2010

Tourism Boom Slow to Materialize in KwaZulu-Natal

Early hotel reservation figures and flight bookings indicate that Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal province may see smaller crowds for the World Cup than expected. Local business people are hoping that the boom is still on its way.

Airfares and accommodation have reportedly been pushed up to unaffordable levels and this, combined with persistent crime fears and the effects of the recession in Europe and the US appear to be keeping international visitors away from South Africa - and Durban in particular.

Tourism KZN CEO Ndabo Khoza said this week there were concerns in the accommodation and tourism industries, but they were nonetheless confident of reaching their initial target of 25 000 foreign visitors over all 30 days of the tournament.

Tourists shun KZN over prices
Sunday Tribune
Feburay 14, 2010

Cruise Ship Won't Dock as Hotel in Cape Town During Cup

Owners of the Queen Elizabeth 2 have cancelled plans to dock the famous ship in Cape Town as a floating hotel during the World Cup. They have not announced whether another site in South Africa will be chosen during the event.

Istithmar World, an investment arm of the indebted Dubai World conglomerate, says Cape Town is "no longer being considered" as a possible destination for the legendary ship.

QE2 won't dock in Cape Town for World Cup
SAPA/AP via Independent Online
January 28, 2010

Cruise Liners to House World Cup Fans

With hotel accommodations expected to be tightly packed, city and tourism officials are expecting to use cruise ships as floating hotels during the World Cup.

Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said Portugal, hosts of the 2004 European championship, had made successful use of cruise ships.

"They are going to be quite important especially for 2010 both as people movers and even as accommodation," Ndebele told Reuters on Wednesday during a visit to London.

SA to house World Cup fans in cruise liners
Mail and Guardian
November 25, 2009

Cruise Ships Flock to South Africa for World Cup

As a new cruise ship prepares to begin operations out of Durban ahead of the World Cup, South Africa is preparing to play host to a number of international cruise ships during the tournament.

However, the MSC Sinfonia will not be the only high profile cruise ship to make its maiden voyage to Durban. Next year in March the uber-luxurious Queen Mary 2 - which is almost three times the size of the Sinfonia will call in Durban for the first time.

In addition, the big cruising news for the 2010 Fifa World Cup is that German promoter ONE OCEAN CLUB will bring two cruise ships from Holland America Cruise Lines - the MS Noordam and MS Westerdam - to operate as floating hotels for the duration of the tournament out of Durban and Port Elizabeth.

Cruise ship bonanza for SA
The Mercury
November 18, 2009

With Hotel Shortage, WC Organizers Plan Post-Match Fan Transport

World Cup organizers have announced plans to assist the mobilization of fans out of host cities after tournament matches due to projected shortfalls in accommodations.

Away from the main urban centres of Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, fans could face a long night after evening games. As well as South Africa's main cities, organisers have signed deals to accommodate them in neighbouring countries such as Swaziland, Botswana and Mozambique. Some supporters will even stay on the holiday island of Mauritius.

The mass airlift will employ a shuttle system introduced on a smaller scale by Uefa to ferry Chelsea and Manchester United fans back from Moscow following the 2008 Champions League final.

World Cup organising committee chairman Danny Jordaan said that over 200 extra planes and more than 1,000 additional buses would be pressed into action. Supporters will funnel away from stadiums and be placed on the first available flight. Smaller hosts such as Polokwane and Nelspruit will be among the worst affected.

World Cup organisers plan mass evacuation of spectators after matches
The Guardian
November 6, 2009

Cape Town Hoteliers Preparing for Tourist Influx

Owners of bed-and-breakfast accommodations in Cape Town-area townships are developing their own strategy to meet the expected influx of tourists during the 2010 World Cup.

B&B owners in Gugulethu, Langa and Khayelitsha have developed their own hospitality strategy for the event - without Match, Fifa's official hospitality partner for the World Cup.

The strategy includes:

# Launching a website where fans can book and get information on township accommodation.

# Ensuring that township restaurants and B&Bs are equipped with everything the average soccer fan needs.

# Developing a plan to ensure visitors are kept safe.

Townships prepare for 2010 influx
Cape Argus
October 23, 2009