HOTEL managers are bracing themselves for an influx of bookings for next year's Commonwealth Games.

At least one Bolton hotel is almost fully booked, creating optimism that the estimated £30 million cash bonanza for the town is within reach.

Although there has been a lukewarm response to bookings from individual spectators, group reservations are apparently booming. Companies such as the BBC have packed into the town's hotels.

The Holiday Inn Express, on Arena Approach, is already two-thirds full between July 25 and August 4, 2002.

A hotel spokesman said: "We have had a wonderful response and have had no trouble filling the rooms. The badminton tournament is proving a real draw."

But although hotels are receiving enquiries from companies and other groups, individual sport fans have yet to pick up the phone. It has led some hoteliers to urge Games organisers to step-up promotion of the individual events amid fears that the four in five people who, it has been claimed, know nothing of the event are still not being reached.

Games officials, however, are confident spectators will soon be clamouring for accommodation. A spokesman said: "The tickets have not gone on sale to the public yet so it is still very early.

"Our promotion campaign will intensify as times goes on. We've started to place commercials on television in the Granada region and that will expand over the coming months."

Event organisers yesterday announced a tie-up with accommodation management company Sportsworld.

The firm, which has been involved with every Commonwealth Games since 1982, also said the lack of current bookings from sports fans was not unusual.

Simon Gillespie, Sportsworld's marketing director, said: "It has been quiet up to now but it will start to gear up over the next few weeks.

"The one-year countdown mark is the crucial one for events such as this because it wakes up the media and the organisers to the fact there's not that much time to go.

"We're being realistic - after all these are not the Olympic Games. But having said that, they are incredibly high profile and we expect the number of beds we have available will not be enough.

"I think things will take off in October when the tickets go on sale."

The company has 4,500 beds available across Greater Manchester in hotels and hostels, although spectators will be able to choose from thousands more by booking direct with hotels.

So far the New Pack Horse, on Nelson Square, Bolton, the Last Drop Hotel, on Hospital Road, Bromley Cross, and the Posthouse Hotel, on Beaumont Road, Bolton, have signed up to Sportsworld.

They have agreed to hand a proportion of their rooms to the company, which numbers the Sydney Olympics among its successes.

A spokesman for the New Pack Horse said: "We have had some enquiries, mainly from groups, but we're confident bookings will come. It will be a wonderful event which will benefit the whole area."

Among those still considering joining the Sportsworld scheme is De Vere Whites, at the Reebok Stadium, just a few yards from Bolton Arena - home of the Games' badminton events.

Manager Roland Ayling said: "I sometimes wonder whether people know the badminton is being held here?

"We have 125 beds available at the hotel and we're looking forward to welcoming visitors."

Mr Gillespie said Sportsworld would attempt to entice as many as 2,000 spectators to Greater Manchester from Australia, New Zealand and Canada, a proportion of which would be directed to Bolton.

He added: "Things will move slowly for a while. As with any big event, things pick up immeasurably as you get closer to the event.

"The local and national press interest is very beneficial."

Bolton is hosting the badminton tournament at Bolton Arena and cycling events in Rivington during the 10-day event.

An estimated £30 million is expected to be spent by visitors as the spotlights is placed on the region from July 25 to August 4, 2002.

A Games hotline detailing events has been set up on 0845 241 2002. Sportsworld can be contacted on 01235 554844.