Place to be - at $10,000 a night

Dominion Post

STANDING TALL: An artist's impression of Tourism New Zealand's planned $4 million rugby ball pavilion on the Eiffel Tower's front lawn. The pavilion, which opens October 5, has attracted attention from others who wish to use it for their own functions.

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Tourism New Zealand's planned $4 million rugby ball on the Eiffel Tower's front lawn has become the place to be – for a price.

The pavilion will be used for government functions during the Rugby World Cup, but will be open to all comers for nearly $10,000 a night when not in use.

If there was enough interest to fill the available nights in the pavilion, Tourism New Zealand could recoup more than $100,000 on its investment.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said the inflatable ball-shaped 100% Pure New Zealand pavilion, to be opened on the Champ de Mars at the base of the Eiffel Tower on October 5, would be a great location, and those looking to make the most of the World Cup experience might see it as an opportunity. "We think it will be an attractive place for people to do some corporate hosting, and we expect people will see it and want to use it."

The pavilion has been designed, exported and erected by the Government to showcase New Zealand. It will remain in place till the end of October, and will house state-of-the-art audio visual equipment, a bar and catering facilities.

Tourism New Zealand and Prime Minister Helen Clark won permission from Paris mayor and rugby enthusiast Bertrand Delanoe to put the 25-metre-long ball on the famous site and will be using it for official functions during the rugby tournament. For (Euro)5000 euros (NZ$9816) a night, depending on the number of people and length of hire, it could be leased when officials were not using it, Mr Hickton said.