America’s Cup organisers have asked Bermuda rival San Diego for thousands of free hotel nights worth $2.75 million in the run up to the 2017 races.

But San Diego Tourism Marketing District board members are said to be against the idea.

The San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper quoted tourism board member Matt Greene as saying he did not think it was appropriate for the District Board to fork out for rooms at its member hotels.

He added: “It just stinks.”

Mr Greene, of Evolution Hospitality, a hotel management firm, added: “There’s just a general feeling that there’s self-interest at play here, which I don’t think serves us very well.”

The newspaper reported that San Diego Sports Commission Mike McDowell said that America’s Cup organisers had asked for 10,000 free hotel nights in the three years running up to the races.

He told the Tourism Marketing District Board that race chiefs would use the rooms to try and recruit corporate sponsors leading up to the world’s biggest yacht race.

And he added that the organisers would also want another 7,500 room nights at half price.

But Mr McDowell floated a counter-offer where San Diego tourism would offer $2 million so organisers could buy hotel nights for race officials — which they would then reimburse at 50 percent of the value.

Last night, Education and Economic Development Minister Dr Grant Gibbons declined to comment on whether Bermuda had been approached with a similar request for free hotel rooms.

Bermuda Hotel Association CEO Stephen Todd said last night that the lead role in landing the prestige races was taken by Government and the Bermuda Tourism Authority.

He added he was “not personally aware” of any approach by race organisers — but said any request would be dealt with on its merits.

Mr Todd said: “It’s something we would have to take into consideration and determine the viability of us being able to do so and the potential benefits it may represent.

“It’s a question which would have to be put to the Association members so they could have the opportunity to consider it in their meetings.”

Last night, Education and Economic Development Minister Dr Grant Gibbons declined to comment on whether Bermuda had been approached with a similar request.

And the Bermuda Tourism Authority had not responded to requests for comment by press time.

Bermuda and San Diego are now head-to-head to host the prestige series of races after Chicago was eliminated earlier in the summer.

But Bermuda — even it comes in as runner-up to San Diego — is already guaranteed to host America’s Cup World Series events prior to the 2017 main event.

The Bermuda bid also attracted backing from New Zealand — a three-times winner of the America’s Cup and hosts of the event in 2000 and 2003.