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Dunedin, May 23, 2017
Nationwide accommodation network, ‘Look After Me’ has put their hand as an accommodation Partner for fans going to the New Zealand Ed Sheeran concerts.
Director Dr Julia Charity, who founded the company just ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup said that they were delighted to help with the three Auckland and two Dunedin shows in March 2018.
“It is a privilege to support Ed. He is a kind and generous man and he would want to know that there are plenty of affordable accommodations for fans,” she said.
Look After Me, a Homestay Network, has supported other large events like Womad in New Plymouth, Art Deco in Napier and Ellerslie Flower Show in Christchurch and is also supporting the British and Irish Lions Tour in June 2017.
‘Pop-Up Hotel’
“We are a ‘Pop-Up Hotel.’ Only our rooms are in people’s homes, instead of a single building – so it is perfect for big events,” she said.
Dunedin i-site visitor manager Louise van de Vlierd said that they welcomed ‘Look After Me’ as a provider for accommodation for the Ed Sheeran concerts and other events in Dunedin.
“It is good to have a credible provider helping homeowners get ready should commercial accommodation become exhausted. Some of Ed’s fans, like mature guests or those travelling with children would be likely to welcome a homestay experience,” she said.
Local Dunedin resident and new ‘Look After Me’ host Tracey Fleet said,” I have got a five-bedroom house, so it makes sense to help out. I can even take fans to the concert, as I have already got my tickets.’
Show Tickets
Tickets to Ed Sheeran’s concerts are selling fast with two of Ed Sheeran’s two weekend shows at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland sold out the day they were released.
A Frontier Touring spokeswoman said some tickets were still on sale for his third show on Monday night via Ticketmaster.
Tickets to the two Dunedin shows at Forsyth Barr Stadium went on sale at 2 pm, Tuesday May 23, 2017.
Waiting outside the Forsyth Barr Stadium since 8.40 am, Ed Sheeran fan Debbie Waide secured her tickets. After missing out on the pre-sale she said she turned up early, just to be sure.
Dr Julia Charity
Dr Charity recently relocated Look After Me to Dunedin. She is well known in the New Zealand Tourism Industry, particularly for her work with Destination Rotorua and Tourism New Zealand to bring Chinese Reality TV show ‘Dad, where are we going?’ to film in New Zealand. The shows were watched by 1.3 billion people and helped showcase New Zealand’s scenery, people and places.
Dr Charity manages her national homestay network out of Dunedin’s shared office space the Petridish. She said that she is impressed with the business community in Dunedin. “The people who live and work here are humble, hard-working and an amazing group of people. They’ve really seen the potential for how a concept like ours can help Dunedin in peak times,” she said.
Homeowners can rent out a spare room, guest wing or apartment. Hosts also have the option of donating a percentage of their guest fees to Charity.
For Charity
For the Ed Sheeran concerts, ‘Look After Me’ have nominated the Sophie Elliot Foundation and their ‘Loves me not’ workshops and books educating youth about positive relationships. For every $ spent on accommodation at ‘Look After Me,’ the hosts elect to donate 1% to the Sophie Elliot Foundation.
About the concerts, Charity said, “It is definitely about the fans. There will be a carnival atmosphere right across New Zealand that week. It is a great example of how the sharing economy works. Everyone wins – the fans, the promoters, the hosts, the guests, the cities and the communities they serve. We are very pleased to be part of it.”
If you live in Auckland or Dunedin and have spare accommodation in March next year, register your interest with info or visit www.lookafterme.co.nz
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Photo Caption:
Dr Julia Charity, at home in the Petridish-shared office space in Dunedin. Her company, ‘Look After Me’ has been confirmed as the official accommodation provider for the two Ed Sheeran concerts in Dunedin. Photo Credit: Edith Leigh Photography.
