On the Rise: Accor's Queensland Hotels Exemplify Solid Performance

Accor’s Queensland hotel network has recorded sustained growth in the year to the end of July 2024, emphasising Queensland’s 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.

Statement

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

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 COO 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. The century milestone brings Accor closer to its goal of having 100% of its network across the Pacific region achieving Sustainable Tourism Certification by the end of 2025.”

From luxury to economy, Accor operates 19 international brands and 400+ hotels across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia, such as Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Handwritten Collection, Novotel, TRIBE, Mercure, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget, as well as Ennismore’s SO/.