With athletes preparing to compete at the Caledonian grounds, motels are reporting no vacancies while the hospitality industry is looking forward to the expected increase in activity.
Hospitality New Zealand Otago branch president Mark Scully said it was "all very exciting".
"It all helps Dunedin. Basically, if the motels are full, the bars and restaurants are full."
He said the Caledonian grounds were looking great.
"The Caledonian grounds are a great facility.
"I think we're lucky with our facilities in Dunedin. We just need to make sure that we're leveraging the full advantage of them to encourage people to come."
It is the first time the championships, this year boasting a star-studded lineup, have been held in Dunedin since 2016.
Stars include Paris Olympics high-jump gold medallist Hamish Kerr, sprinter Zoe Hobbs, shot-put rivals Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill, women’s Paris Olympics silver medallist shot-putter Maddi Wesche and Dunedin’s Paralympic champion Anna Grimaldi.
There will be a strong local contingent — Otago has 72 athletes involved — among a total of 715 athletes competing over the next few days.
There will also be 130 volunteers and 150 officials ensuring the events run smoothly from today until Sunday.
