Accor Pacific is anticipating continued growth in travel and development activity in the Queensland market following a positive result for its network in the first half of the year.
The operator recorded an increase of 1.5 occupancy points to 70.7% across its network of 95 Queensland hotels, resorts and apartments – which amount to a total of 12,095 rooms – for the year to July, compared to the corresponding year.
Leisure markets are slightly ahead of last year (+0.4 pts) with Brisbane taking the lead, up 4.6 occupancy points, and the Cairns Area showing the strongest YTD growth up 7.0 occupancy points as a result of increased leisure demand and group business.
For the remainder of the year, Brisbane City and surrounds are ahead 2.8 occupancy points due to increased leisure demand into September and October, largely driven by a strong events and sporting calendar.
“The financial difficulties experienced by domestic carriers this year have clearly impacted travel to some Queensland destinations, but we are encouraged by increases in international airline capacity into Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast, which bodes well for Queensland tourism and the performance of our hotels in 2024-25,” said Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer PM&E, Adrian Williams.
“International inbound has finally begun to recover most of the lost ground over the past four years, and with substantial increases in direct international flights into Queensland airports confirmed, we are confident of accelerated growth in inbound business for our hotels in the year ahead.
“While corporate travel is yet to recover fully, domestic leisure travel has shown great resilience in destinations such as the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, while Cairns has enjoyed an outstanding winter season.
“Brisbane continues to be one of Australia’s best performing cities, built on its top-class events calendar and complemented by the city’s ever-increasing reputation for dining, entertainment, and lifestyle attractions – such as the phenomenal Bluey’s World, which has really helped put Brisbane in the international spotlight.
“It is only eight years until the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, so we can anticipate major activity around infrastructure development in the coming years, which will stimulate both domestic and international arrivals to the city, as well as to Olympic co-hosts, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.”
Regional coastal destinations are also enjoying positive forward bookings, with Cairns up 3.9 occupancy pts, Gold Coast up 3.8 pts, and Regional QLD up 2.9 pts.
Tourism Research Australia reported that 27 million visitors arrived to Queensland in the year to March 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic records.
New Zealand, China, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States of America led the international recovery, with further growth expected under a major expansion of international inbound services into Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Cairns.
Brisbane Airport, which reported a 39.4% increase in international travel in FY24 compared to FY23, has launched 10 new international flight routes this year, including from China and America, with five additional services from Los Angeles, Dallas, Manila, Port Vila and Bangkok confirmed for FY25.
The predicted increase in domestic and international travel bodes well for the upcoming Peppers Gladstone, Central Queensland’s first five-star hotel, which is slated to open in October.
The 32-room Peppers Gladstone will adjoin the existing 60-room Mantra Hotel at the Yaralla Sports Club under as a dual-branded hotel concept, designed by BSPN Architects and constructed by Mettle Projects.