The FIFA Final Draw has determined the fixtures for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and fans from across the world are rushing to book accommodation in the cities where their teams will be playing during June and July. 

With many Cape Town residents wanting to convert their homes into temporary rental accommodation during the event, two significant problem areas exist. On the one hand, visitors booking temporary accommodation have little assurance that the accommodation they pay for will live up to their expectations and deliver on the promises made. Secondly, individuals wanting to rent out their homes may have difficulty marketing their accommodation offerings to potential 2010 FIFA World Cup visitors. To assist accommodation holders and clients in this process, Cape Town Tourism will introduce a temporary accommodation tier to their membership criteria. The membership will be set at current rates, based on the size and type of accommodation offered. Key to becoming a member is the assessment of the property by Cape Town Tourism. A successful assessment ultimately leads to a membership accreditation, representation on Cape Town Tourism’s website (www.capetown.travel/2010) and promotion through Cape Town Tourism’s call centres and Visitor Information Centres. Cape Town Tourism will also offer assistance in the areas of brochure compilation, marketing, and visitor requirements to ensure that temporary accommodation service providers offer a remarkable visitor experience.

Lianne Burton, spokesperson for Cape Town Tourism says: “We believe that temporary accommodation will play an essential part in helping the city to meet the accommodation demand during the World Cup. Our challenge now is to ensure that temporary accommodation providers offer a standard of quality, value and service that meets the expectations and requirements of visitors, and enhances Cape Town’s reputation as a leading world city.”  Cape Town Tourism will be rolling out a viral marketing campaign to advertise the benefits of the Membership Programme for temporary accommodation providers early next year.