Hotels win big during Games

THE Commonwealth Games has proven a big winner for Gold Coast accommodation providers, raking in double what they normally would.

Demand for room bookings defied the retail slump in the city at the time and accounted for revenue of $7.5 million for the 12 days of the Games in April.

For the same period last year, booked room revenue was under half that at $3.5 million.

Occupancy sat at 86.9 per cent for the Games despite lead up predictions it would hover in the 70s, alarming some Gold Coast city councillors at the time.

The healthy numbers, released yesterday by research group STR and presented to Destination Gold Coast members, also included an average room rate of $346.98 during the Games.

That was up 77 per cent on the same time last year.

By comparison, the average room rate on the Gold Coast has surged from $164 in 2014 to $197 so far this year.

Given the Games downturn in retail and hospitality trade, Gold Coast-based STR business development manager Paul Hammond said the numbers would “surprise” some.

“But in terms of accommodation it fared very well in the way it performed during the Commonwealth Games.

“Generally it is quite a positive story for the Gold Coast. For the past five to six years there has been growth in all areas of accommodation,” Mr Hammond said.

“We have had a good long life cycle systemic growth. The average daily rae was up for the 12 days – it was very good,” Mr Hammond said.

The average occupancy rate on the Gold Coast has trended up since 2014 – from 69 per cent to 73 per cent in the latest set of STR data.

Mr Hammond unveiled the encouraging picture of Games accommodation bookings at Destination Gold Coast’s launch event yesterday for the inaugural Gold Coast Tourism Week.

A breakdown of visitation data for the Commonwealth Games period will be released later this year.

“BUT IN TERMS OF ACCOMMODATION IT FARED VERY WELL IN THE WAY IT PERFORMED FOR THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES.

Gold Coast Tourism Week continues today with Mayor Tom Tate and Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones due to speak at an industry luncheon at Sharks Event Centre in Southport.

A lively debate is scheduled tonight from 6pm at Burleigh Brewing to discuss media coverage of the tourism industry.

Tourism generates 46,000 jobs on the Gold Coast and represents $5 billion or 17 per cent of the city’s economy.

The inaugural Gold Coast Tourism Week aims to celebrate the depth and breadth of the visitor industry right across the city.