Melbourne hotels are enjoying a boom in bookings this week as fans gather in the city to watch the Wallabies take on the British and Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Twelve years on from the last Lions Tour to Australia, over 85,000 fans are expected to attend the game.
Accommodation Australia said hotels in and around Melbourne are nearly full.
“Melbourne will be awash with colour this weekend as rugby union and footy fans converge on the city,” said Accommodation Australia (Victoria) General Manager, Dougal Hollis.
“The buzz and excitement only amplified, given nearby Marvel Stadium will also be near capacity, playing host to the North Melbourne and Geelong AFL clash.”
On Tuesday, a game between Lions and Pasifika XV generated hotel occupancies of 80% in the Melbourne CBD, up more than 6% on last year.
Forecasts for Saturday’s test match are even higher with 91% occupancy for Friday and 93% for Saturday, up more than 20% on last year with those numbers expected to rise.
“Rugby union fans certainly know how to celebrate these eagerly anticipated occasions, often travelling great distances, in large numbers, to passionately support their teams,” said Accommodation Australia (National) Chair, David Mansfield.
“The Victorian Government is forecasting an economic benefit to Melbourne in excess of $90m as 40,000 Lions fans descend on the city.
“Many CBD and city fringe hotels report being at or near full capacity as a result.”