Warrnambool Racing Club operations manager Ashlee Scott said the office had been inundated with calls from people desperate to find a place to stay.

“This year we’ve partnered up with the visitor information centre to create a database of accommodation available in Warrnambool,” Mrs Scott said.

“We put a call out for anyone with a unit, apartment or granny flat who might not be on any type of formal accommodation system.

“We certainly get a lot of people calling up the racing club so if anyone has a spare room or is willing to vacate their house for the week they should contact the Visitor Information Centre.”

Warrnambool City Council's visitor economy manager David McMahon said there were still a limited number of motel rooms available.

He said anyone who contacted the Visitor Information Centre would be advised of these vacancies first. 

“We will make the private accommodation available for visitors once we've maximised the accommodation industry's capacity,” Mr McMahon said.

Mrs Scott said the club also received calls from people who were willing to stay outside of Warrnambool.

“Even if people have a property on the outskirts of Warrnambool, we encourage them to contact the Visitor Information Centre.”

Mrs Scott said indications pointed to a bumper year for the carnival.

“Our hospitality packages are up about 12 per cent this year, which is a good sign,” she said.

“We want to try and get as many people here as possible and if they don’t have a bed they won’t come.”

Mrs Scott said people looking for accommodation at this late stage were generally willing to pay a premium price.

Most motels in Warrnambool have been booked out for months, with a few indicating they may have a room for one night but not the three nights of the carnival.

Blue Whale Motel owner Graeme Soulsby said they had bookings that rolled over each year.

“We look like we could be booked out for the next five or 10 years,” he said.