Accommodation scrum World Cup brings a huge boost to city hotels

BRISTOL'S hospitality sector is already experiencing a late summer boost in bookings - thanks to the Women’s Rugby World Cup coming to the city in mid September.

- Tristan CORK

The tournament is being held in England for the first time in 15 years, including four crucial matches at Ashton Gate, and hoteliers are already reporting a surge in bookings by fans who have got tickets.

Some hotels in Bristol and the Bristol area have already been booked up entirely to host the teams by tournament organisers - even though no one knows yet which nations will be competing in the matches at Ashton Gate.

The home of Bristol City and Bristol Bears will host two of the four quarter finals on the weekend of September 13 and 14, and both semifinals on the following weekend, September 19 and 20, bringing a huge amount of attention - and potentially sellout crowds of more than 100,000 in total to the city over the course of seven days.

The chair of the Bristol Hoteliers Association said his members are already seeing a boost in bookings as rugby fans from across the country book tickets for the matches and look for accommodation. Adam Flint said it is giving a much-welcome boost to the tourism industry in Bristol, at a time of the year when normally things start to drop off.