Terrorism, rugby, and hospitality: She׳ll be right

•We examine hotels׳ preparation for a terrorist attack during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.•Hotels were poorly prepared for a terrorist attack during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.•We consider the influence of the New Zealand psyche on preparation for terrorism.•We consider innkeepers׳ responsibilities to their guests.

In 2011, international attention was focused on New Zealand, host of the Rugby World Cup (RWC 2011), which brought 133,200 visitors to New Zealand over a three-month period. This exploratory study, undertaken before the event, investigates the attitudes of hotel managers and staff as they prepared to host spectators, rugby teams, and media personnel. The aim of the study was to determine preparedness for an attack, and assess attitudes and approaches to risk management in relation to terrorism. Interview data collected from senior hospitality managers revealed a distinctly laissez faire approach to security, which is partly explained by Hofstede׳s (1984) low uncertainty avoidance category for New Zealand. This attitude is reputedly common in New Zealand, where it is proudly expressed as "she׳ll be right". It is hoped that this study will bring attention to the weak security measures in New Zealand, which would have been insufficient protection for life and property, had a serious terrorist attack been planned.