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

Accor’s network of 95 Queensland hotels, resorts and apartments (12,095 rooms) recorded an increase of 1.5 occupancy points to 70.7% for the year to July, compared to the corresponding year. 

Brisbane City was a leader in the resurgence, with growth up 4.6 occupancy points,  driven by increased leisure and corporate demand. Overall leisure markets are slightly  ahead of last year (+0.4 pts), 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 are ahead 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% recovery compared to 2019. Brisbane and  the Sunshine Coast reached new international OVE records. 

New Zealand, China, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States of America led the international recovery, a trend which is expected to grow stronger in 2024-25 as a  result of a major expansion of international inbound services into Brisbane, Gold Coast,  Sunshine Coast and Cairns.

Brisbane Airport is operating near to 2019 levels, with a 39.4% increase in international  travel in FY24 compared to FY23. This year, 10 new international flight routes have been  launched, including from China and America, and five additional services from Los  Angeles, Dallas, Manila, Port Vila and Bangkok have been confirmed for FY25.

Gold Coast Airport is set to welcome its first connection to Hong Kong in six years, as  Hong Kong Airlines launches seasonal services to the city, while Jetstar will provide year round direct services from Auckland to Sunshine Coast Airport from December, tapping  into the region’s most significant inbound market.

Cairns Airport saw the return of China Eastern Airlines from Shanghai and Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong, along with additional capacity from Singapore Airlines and the first  ever AirAsia service from Indonesia.

Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer PM&E, Adrian Williams, said Queensland was leading the Australian travel recovery.

"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 Mr  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.”

Central Queensland’s first five-star hotel set for October opening Accor will build on its pre-eminent position in the Queensland hotel marketplace with the  opening of Peppers Gladstone – Central Queensland’s first five-star hotel – in October.

The prestigious 32-room Peppers Gladstone will adjoin the existing 60-room Mantra Hotel at the Yaralla Sports Club and will be operated as a dual-branded hotel concept,  which Accor has established as a specialty in the Australian hotel sector. 

Designed by BSPN Architects and constructed by Mettle Projects, Peppers Gladstone will  offer a range of accommodation options from King Studio Rooms to Superior Two Bedroom Apartments, with all guestrooms featuring fully equipped kitchens, king-sized  beds, large televisions with Chromecast capabilities, and a complimentary non-alcoholic  mini-bar.

The fusion of Peppers Gladstone and Mantra Gladstone will be able to accommodate over 150 guests, elevating the city’s capacity to host small to large-scale meetings, expos,  and weddings within its various conference spaces.

Peppers Gladstone will join a network of more than 20 Peppers retreats, resorts and  hotels across Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.

Accor’s Queensland hotels lead the charge in Sustainable Tourism Certification Accor’s Queensland hotels have been a leading force in the Group achieving the  milestone of having 100 hotels awarded Sustainable Tourism Certification from  Ecotourism Australia. 

Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer PM&E, Adrian Williams, said a third of the 100  certified hotels are located in Queensland.

“Our Queensland hotels have totally embraced the initiative,” said Mr Williams. 

“Queensland’s tourism success is heavily based on the state’s reputation for nature based tourism, and our hotels are responding to the strong demand of travellers for a  more sustainable approach to tourism and accommodation.

“The 100 hotels, resorts, and apartment hotels have each demonstrated their strong  commitment to environmental, socio-economic, cultural, and responsible management  principles, implementing global best-practice sustainable tourism standards to achieve  certification.