Hospitality venues across Christchurch have been experiencing strong trade as thousands of visitors have arrived in Canterbury for Cup and Show Week.
More than twenty nine thousand people have travelled to the region for a busy schedule of racing and fashion events, including Cup Day at Addington and the Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival.
ChristchurchNZ estimated that Cup and Show Week in both 2022 and 2023 generated more than eight point two million dollars in economic return for the city and created more than forty three thousand visitor nights. With this year’s expanded event programme, those figures are expected to rise.
Hospitality NZ Canterbury Branch President Jeremy Stevens said the week had provided a significant lift for hospitality and accommodation providers.
“There’s nothing better than seeing no vacancy signs all the way down Papanui Road. A sign Cup Week is here and our summer season has begun,” Stevens said.
“Many cafes, bars and eateries have been busier than usual with some early reporting of double digit growth on last year.”
Stevens said one of his venues, Aikmans Merivale, had its busiest trading day of the year on Tuesday, coinciding with the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup Day.
“We anticipated a big day and it delivered. A lot of time and effort was put into promoting this year’s race day packages. We sold out earlier than previous years with two hundred well dressed patrons for a champagne breakfast and two hundred and forty for our cup day lunch package. With an ever changing forecast we are hopeful for good weather over the weekend to finish the week with a record number,” he said.
The hospitality sector has faced difficult trading conditions in recent years because of the pandemic and broader economic pressures, and the lift from Cup and Show Week has been welcomed.
Warring Group chief executive David Warring, who owns three restaurants in Christchurch, said the week had brought renewed optimism.
“Cup Week has always been an asset to Christchurch and this week is only adding to the general atmosphere of confidence and positivity in the future of the city and the region. The future is bright and Canterbury is buzzing,” Warring said.
The week of events began on Saturday 8 November with Barneswood Farm NZ One Thousand Guineas Day and will conclude on Sunday 16 November.
Stevens said the turnout showed how important major events were for hospitality operators.
“Cup Week is the forerunner to what we hope will be a strong summer season for hospitality in the region,” he said.
