Accor Pacific’s Queensland hotel network reports sustained growth as of July 2024

Accor Pacific’s hotel network in Queensland recorded sustained growth in the year to the end of July 2024, emphasising the area’s premier position in the Australian tourism and hotel market.

Made up of 95 hotels, resorts, and apartments offering a total of 12,095 rooms, Accor’s Queensland holdings recorded an increase of 1.5 occupancy points to 70.7 percent for the year to July, compared to last year’s figures.

Brisbane City led the resurgence, growing by 4.6 occupancy points during the period. Growth was primarily driven by increased leisure and corporate demand. 

Overall leisure markets are up by 0.4 points from last year, with the Cairns Area showing the strongest YTD growth up 7.0 occupancy points through increased leisure demand and group business.

For the remainder of the year, Brisbane City and surrounds expect to be up by 2.8 occupancy points due to increased leisure demand into September and October, built around a strong events and sporting calendar.

Regional coastal destinations are also enjoying positive forward bookings, with Cairns (ahead 3.9 occupancy pts), Gold Coast (+3.8 pts), and Regional QLD (+2.9 pts) all pacing ahead compared to last year. Cairns and regional Queensland are seeing an increase through all segments, while Gold Coast is benefiting from stronger group demand.

The positive performance of the Accor hotel network reflects the latest data for Queensland’s tourism sector. Tourism Research Australia reported that 27 million visitors arrived in the year to March 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic records as both domestic and international visitor numbers surged.

The year also saw a new high in Queensland’s overnight visitor expenditure (OVE) with a total of $6.1 billion, an increase of 100.9 percent recovery compared to 2019. Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast reached new international OVE records.