The benefits of major events is on full display in the city of sails. 

Auckland hotels saw a $5 million boost in January, largely thanks to SailGP and country musician Luke Combs' Eden Park concerts. 

An extra 8,000 hotel rooms were booked over the four days, both events were on. 

Hotel Britomart General Manager Clinton Farley told Mike Hosking the events helped make a strong start to 2025. 

He says that, combined with the usual inbound tourism, helped make it a cracker summer season. 

Farley backs ideas for a bed-tax to pay for these money-making events, but says it needs to be nationwide. 

He says they don't want to create a messy visitor experience for tourists, where they pay different prices in different centres. 

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