New Zealand risks ruining its reputation as hosts of the Rugby World Cup with extortionate rates for accommodation, according to International Rugby Board chief executive Mike Miller.
Miller has accused hotels of taking advantage of the high demand by hiking up prices during the tournament in September and October. He said the hotel industry was failing to consider the future when charging up to ten times the regular seasonal room rate.
''Some have thought, 'We can make a bit of a killing here and not worry about what's in the future,''' Miller told Radio New Zealand. ''It's not great for the image of the country.''
With six weeks to go before the World Cup, there are also concerns over the take up of luxury package tours, particularly by British fans, but Rugby World Cup 2011 boss Martin Snedden predicted there would be a surge of late sales.
''You only have to look at the history of major events to see you sell basically 80 per cent of tickets in the period of selling a year before the event, and then in the final stage - just before the tournament and through the tournament itself - you are going to sell a huge amount of tickets,' he said.'