David Weyer, owner of the Ranfurly Lion Hotel, said it could not have come at a better time.
"It was a real shot in the arm. We had a nice busy three days.
"After the summer rail trail stopped, it was like the edge of a cliff. It was like that for everyone though," he said.
Sixteen competitors at the bonspiel were the hotel's house guests and other competitors bought cooked breakfasts there.
Naseby's Royal Hotel had eight guests and hotel general hand Chris Becker said an Auckland team member had also dined each night at the hotel.
Oturehua Tavern owner Grahame Jones said while he did not have any house guests he did have a full bar, especially after the curlers' court on Thursday night.
"It was an awesome night, really colourful.
"The kitchen was also busy doing bar snacks."
Bonspiel catering manager Paula Duffy, of Oturehua, said although it was too soon to say exactly how much money had been raised, she was sure it would be well worth all the hard work.
"It's a fantastic fundraiser. We had 215 [people] to the beef and greens [meal] on the final night, which was a good end to proceedings."
She said all money raised would be spent within the Oturehua community.
Project Maniototo co-ordinator Amie Pont said although there had not been a study done of the economic benefits from the bonspiel, there was no doubt that it attracted a lot of people from outside the district.
"It also brings back a lot of people who have moved away. They come home to be with family."
