It’s not just the numbers that are impressive – more than 100 new hotels and 30,000 rooms – but it’s the diversity of the new hotel projects that highlights just how far the Australian hotel industry has developed in recent years.

Certainly there is a large collection of internationally branded 5-star hotels that have either opened recently or will launch over the next four years, but there are also highly distinctive urban boutique hotels and design-conscious economy hotels.

Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O’Sullivan, said the wave of new hotels follows a massive growth in demand since the end of the GFC, both from international travellers and Australians wanting to explore their own backyard.

“The sustained growth in international arrivals from all continents has provided the trigger for much of the new development, as has Federal, State and Territory investment in tourism infrastructure such as convention centres, airports and urban regeneration projects,” he said.

“The pipeline of new hotels will be able to cater for the expected growth in demand over the next five years and will provide the styles of accommodation to cover all aspects of the market: business and leisure, solo travellers and groups, upscale and economy.”

Chair of Tourism Accommodation Australia and former Tourism Minister, Martin Ferguson, agreed, saying that travellers to Australia would be spoilt for choice and quality as a result of the new hotels coming online.

“We are well on target to meet our 2020 tourism objectives, and what is really pleasing about this new phase of hotel development is the diversity of accommodation styles that are being launched,” said Mr Ferguson.

“There have been some outstanding conversions of heritage buildings to provide atmospheric, characterfilled accommodation, the major international brands are introducing their design-oriented brands to Australia, and we are getting substantial corporate and conference hotels in key locations around the country.”

Mr Ferguson said the “room boom” would not only elevate the Australian tourism industry, it would mean competitive prices and upgraded services and facilities for travellers for many years to come. 

See also:

Novotel Melbourne South Wharf opens ahead of schedule

Brisbane's latest boutique hotel unveiled

Australian tourism spending soars above $40 billion