Illawarra residents are heading to restaurants and hotels to escape today’s soaring temperatures.
The region’s three Accor hotels - Novotel Northbeach, Sebel Kiama and Mercure Resort Gerringong - have all reported bumper lunch trade.
A Novotel Northbeach spokeswoman said there had been a large number of walk-ins at Windjammers Restaurant, many in search of the air-conditioning.
‘‘Customers are telling staff that they have relocated from their ‘regular’ lunch meeting places so that they can sit in air-conditioned comfort,’’ she said.
‘‘It has become a semi-business hub for corporate and it looks like they’ve set up mobile offices in the restaurant!
The hotels are expecting more walk-ins about 4pm, when temperatures could peak.
‘‘We are also getting inquiries for ‘heat’ related accommodation bookings and our reservation team think that this will increase significantly later this afternoon if it becomes clear the temperature isn’t going to come down until much later in the evening,’’ she said.
‘‘We are anticipating packed restaurants and a very packed swimming pool.’’