Optimism in the hospitality sector, despite consumer spending tracking below last year

Latest figures from Worldline shows spending through core retail merchants in the first two weeks of this month, was down 0.3 percent year-on-year.

Core retail was down almost six percent, but expects a peak on Boxing Day.

Hospitality NZ's Sam MacKinnon says bars, restaurants and accommodation providers are always looking to the next summer period.

He says it's been flatter than the sector hoped this year, so they're hopeful of a good summer heading into the new year. 12-19-25 1454