I feel that people who overcharge are chasing tourists away.
I have left my rates the same throughout the year @ R300.00 per person inclusive of breakfast, in Kirkwood.
I have already received bookings for the soccer and have not registered with match.

I too agree with David, its a mater of supply and demand, the fact is there will be a great demand during that month and we know that quality accommodation in short supply. So long as we don't go overboard, remember the Europeans are used to paying there prices, our low prices during the rest of the year serve as an incentive for them to visit because during that time we are competing with other third word countries, i.e. the reverse is true "Low demand and high supply". Also don't forget to include a breakage deposit, especially if your rates are low, cos you might find yourself stuck with a few hooligans!

This is an opportunity for ambush marketing. I think SA Tourism could do more to guide both parties and to set hard and fast rules. There is too much scope to hang ourselves and money lets people do funny tricks, that can cause much damages to the country and all parties.

The WC is your only opportunity to ever make a lot of money in a month. Gauteng where I am from will be the same as New York or London that month. A world hotspot!I hiked my rates by roughly 300% and based it on rates in New York or London during a big happening. I am full for the first 2.5 weeks and have started helping establishments around me, with the same quality rooms, with reservations. I have taken and confirmed reservations to the value of R 580 000. Don't be apprehensive of making money. It is an oppurtunity for you that won't come around again soon. If you have quality rooms and good service hike your prices! I have also used the money to add units to my establishment. All the funds is being invested in my guesthouse so that I can have more units afterwards and increase my revenue. Even though I have hiked my prices, I see that I am the second cheapest and some places a charging 3X my amount for tiny rooms. I don't know what they are thinking? Take hold of the World Cup and make it your own! And make money!

We see the World Cup as a great opportunity to have good occupancy in what is normally a low season period. The World Cup (and any other major event) is treated as a peak period, during which we'd charge the same rate as our normal 2010/2011 high season rate (not the 'existing peak period rate' as the survey suggests - that would be the rate appropriate to last high season, not the coming one).

The recent unbundling of rooms by Match is indicative of the lower than expected demand so far. Not surprising, given that we're in the midst of a major global recession. Not surprising, given the distance South Africa is from a major fan base in Europe. And perhaps most of all, not surprising because so many people have given up on the idea of coming when they realised the vampires were out for them on every level from plane tickets to hotel rooms.

Many in the hospitality industry will remember a similar feeding frenzy around the 2000 'Millenium'. Middle of the road restaurants were asking R2000 and up for New Year Dinner and people advertised 'Millenium Specials' at many multiples of their normal prices. We had our quietest season in years as a result (with said restaurants hastily reducing their rates in a scramble to fill tables, some even having to cancel their events). So in the end we all paid the price of the short-term greed.

They say Sydney's tourism dropped off a cliff after the Olympics because of the sour taste the Ozzies' rapacious prices left in the mouths, hearts and minds of tourists. These legacies live on. We need to be mindful of that.

Our economy (not just us) needs the World Cup to be a raging success. Let's help to make that happen. Not destroy the opportunity in the interests of a fast buck. We stand to gain far more if we take a long-term view - no business can build itself sustainably on the back of one event. You may be using the money to build more rooms, but who's going to fill them in the future?

Hi, I own a charming, old (1796) guesthouse, in Swellendam (Overberg). Would dearly like to participate in your next survey.
Kind regards.
Etienne