NSW HOTEL OCCUPANCY LEVELS AND ROOM RATES
PREDICTED TO RISESurging inbound tourism is predicted to boost NSW hotel occupancy levels and room rates in 2024-25, according to a new report by CBRE. The property services firm predicts Sydney will be the key beneficiary among Australian capital cities as international arrivals recover. This influx of visitors is expected to push occupancy levels even higher during 2024-25. According to the CBRE Hotels Australia Overview and Outlook report, domestic travel in commercial accommodation surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2023 in terms of both travel nights and expenditure. CBRE Australia Head of Hotels Research Ally McDade said last year's spike in outbound travel was beginning to
moderate. “The high cost of overseas flights and accommodation combined with geopolitical tensions globally are expected to benefit the local sector," she said. In the year ending December 2023, the Sydney hotel sector experienced the highest occupancy of all major markets at 77 per cent (up 20 per cent year on year). Sydney had Australia's highest average daily room rate during the period at $269. Sydney also recorded the highest revenue per available room at $207, up 29 per cent year on year. CBRE said Sydney would be the key beneficiary among Australian capital cities from recovering international arrivals, which it predicted would help push occupancy levels even higher during
2024-25. Sydney also has the second largest pipeline in Australia of hotel stock under construction and due to open over the next two years, with the majority of room rates (56 per cent) in the "upper upscale" category.
FOOTBALL LEGENDS JOIN VIVID SYDNEY 2024CommBank Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and head coach Tony Gustavsson will join this year’s Vivid Sydney, taking part in a Vivid Ideas conversation at Sydney Town Hall on 10 June 2024. 'Champions of Change: Mackenzie Arnold and Tony Gustavsson' will explore the dynamic between athlete and her coach, offering an in-depth look at their challenges and achievements. The event will be moderated by Matildas alumni and journalist Grace Gill. She will examine the pair's journey in
professional football, including their roles in building a world-class sporting team and the social impact of the CommBank Matildas. The event, exclusive to Vivid Sydney, bolsters a formidable line-up of Vivid Ideas programming that includes In Conversation with Amy Poehler plus a special look at Inside Out 2, the free weeknight current affairs deep dive After The Fact and AI Will Destroy Humanity: A Future Science Debate.
VALE FORMER VIVID SYDNEY CREATIVE DIRECTOR
IGNATIUS JONES AMFormer Vivid Sydney Creative Director Ignatius Jones AM has passed away following a short illness. One of the world’s leading major event directors and strategists, Mr Jones was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Australian Event Awards and was recognised in the 2019 Australia Day Honours list with an Officer of the Order of Australia award. He was Creative Director of Vivid Sydney from 2011 to 2019. His contribution to the event becoming the Southern Hemisphere’s largest and leading multi-artform festival will long be remembered. Mr Jones was also a major creative force behind the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Opening and
Closing Ceremonies and founding Artistic Director of Sydney’s world-famous New Year’s Eve celebrations (1997-2002). Destination NSW extends its condolences to Mr Jones' family and friends.
ATEC NEW PRODUCT PATHWAY PROGRAM PACKAGESDestination NSW, in partnership with ATEC, is providing up to 10 New Product Pathway Packages to enable visitor economy businesses to participate in Explore NSW & ACT. Explore NSW & ACT will be held in the Blue Mountains from 26-27 June 2024. The industry event will include a welcome function, meetings between ATEC buyer and seller members and networking opportunities. The ATEC 2024 New Product Pathway Packages are designed to help businesses that are new to ATEC to take part in Explore NSW & ACT for the first time. The
packages provide benefits including access to the event as a full primary seller delegate and ATEC Provisional Membership until 30 June 2025. Registrations are now open and close on 19 May 2024.
CHOOSE TOURISM INDUSTRY WORKSHOPThe NSW Choose Tourism Program is hosting a series of workshops to assist visitor economy operators in positioning themselves as employers of choice. The sessions will include presentations by industry experts on strategies to retain employees, onboard new recruits and build high-performing teams. The first of seven workshops will be held in Queanbeyan on 21 May 2024, followed by Tamworth on 30 May 2024. The NSW Choose Tourism Program is funded by the Australian Government and delivered by Destination NSW. Learn more and register to attend via the link below.
BECOME A CHOOSE TOURISM MENTEEDestination NSW is seeking mentees to join the NSW Choose Tourism Mentor Program. The program is available to tourism and hospitality workers in regional NSW who are looking for guidance to progress their skills and careers. It will connect them with mentors who will provide coaching, support, advice, motivation and exposure. To join the program as a mentee, you must currently be working in tourism or hospitality in regional NSW and have at least two years' experience in the industry. Applications to take part in the program close on 17 May 2024.
NEWCASTLE CRUISE READY WORKSHOPJoin Destination NSW and cruise industry experts in Newcastle on 12 June 2024 to learn about cruise tourism opportunities in the region. The workshop will suit visitor economy businesses such as tours and activities, visitor attractions, wineries, distilleries, breweries and farm gates that offer bookable experiences that are located in or near the cruise port. Topics will include the cruise distribution network, markets and demographics, how to create cruise shore excursions and cruise resources and support provided by Destination NSW.
HAVE YOUR SAY: VISITOR ECONOMY STRATEGY The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 is being reviewed and evolved to showcase the best of NSW to the world by focussing on the diverse experiences it offers visitors. Destination NSW is inviting visitor economy stakeholders from across the state to contribute their insights and expertise to the review. This feedback will help identify barriers to growth and opportunities that will turbocharge the visitor economy through to 2035. Read the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 here, then have your say via the link below by 2 June 2024.
AUSTRALIAN FASHION WEEK RETURNSAustralian Fashion Week (AFW) will take place from 13-17 May 2024 at Carriageworks in Sydney. AFW is Australia’s biggest global fashion platform and the largest and most influential fashion event in the Asia-Pacific. It will feature the industry’s biggest names alongside the next generation of Australian designers. Australian Fashion Week is an IMG event supported proudly by Destination NSW.
NEW LGBTIQ+ ADVISORY COUNCIL The NSW Government is seeking applications for a new advisory council designed to improve understanding of issues affecting LGBTIQ+ people across the state. The LGBTIQ+ Advisory Council will provide a mechanism for ongoing community consultation and contribute to the development of a NSW Government LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy. The council will provide ongoing advice to the NSW Government.
REGIONAL NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY ROADSHOWNSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues will visit Newcastle, Central Coast and Wollongong for a series of regional roadshows to preview the programs available to local businesses and district organisations. The regional roadshows will highlight the Uptown District Acceleration Program, a precinct capacity-building program, and the Local Government Night-Time Economy Toolkit, a resource created to help councils build and manage their night-time economies. The Uptown Accelerator recently opened for applications across 43 NSW local government areas.
REFORMS TO LATER TRADING APPLICATIONSThe NSW Government is introducing reforms to support restaurants and bars that want to trade later in locations that are not close to homes. Under the proposed Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Vibrancy Reforms) Bill 2024, councils and consent authorities will have to consider a set of ‘Vibrancy Guidelines’ when assessing certain applications to extend operating hours. Guidelines will be developed alongside the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues following consultation with local councils, stakeholders and the wider community.
INVESTMENT IN WESTERN SYDNEY TRANSPORTThe NSW Government has welcomed a $1.9 billion federal investment boost in funding for transport projects in Western Sydney. It includes $100 million in infrastructure funding to support new bus services to Western Sydney Airport and the emerging city of Bradfield, plus upgrades to Elizabeth Drive and Mamre Road.
APPLICATIONS OPEN TO ATTEND G'DAY AUSTRALIAG’day Australia 2024 will be held in Perth from 14-17 October 2024. The combined training workshop and familiarisation event is for Aussie Specialist Agents from retail outlets and key wholesalers and tour operators from key international markets. They will meet with around 130 local operators during the workshop and networking events.
QANTAS REACHES AGREEMENT WITH ACCCThe Qantas Group has announced an agreement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to resolve court proceedings in relation to flight cancellation processes. Under the settlement agreed with the ACCC, Qantas will commence a projected $20 million remediation program for impacted passengers, with payments to customers ranging from $225 to $450. Subject to the approval of the Federal Court of Australia it will also pay a $100 million civil penalty.
UNVEILING THE NEW DARLING HARBOURThe NSW Government is inviting visitors and Sydneysiders to rediscover Darling Harbour with the opening of three new public spaces: a state-of-the-art playground, a sound shell in Tumbalong Park and a bamboo forest walk in the Chinese Garden of Friendship. The NSW Government is also developing a Darling Harbour 2050 Vision, a planning framework to shape it into a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable waterfront precinct. The precinct welcomes around 27 million visitors a year.
TWO SYDNEY VENUES IN NEW GLOBAL BAR GUIDETwo Sydney bars have been named as the only Australian venues in The Pinnacle Guide. The new international bar rating system aims to become the bar industry’s most respected accolade of excellence. It bestows the world’s best cocktail bars with ascending ratings ranging from 1 (excellent), 2 (outstanding) or 3 (exceptional) pin recognition. Maybe Sammy and El Primo Sanchez both received a 1 pin rating. NSW bars can nominate themselves for assessment.
NATIONAL ACTIVE TRANSPORT FUNDThe Australian Government is committing $100 million to a new national Active Transport Fund in the upcoming Federal Budget. The fund will ensure cities and regional centres across the country are more accessible and connected for both visitors and residents. It will focus on upgrading and delivering new bicycle and walking paths to support zero emissions, provide a safer environment for cyclists and pedestrians and promote active communities and destinations.
CELEBRATING WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTNominations are open for the 2024 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government, which recognise the outstanding achievements and contribution of women in councils across NSW. The awards will be presented on 20 August 2024 during a ceremony at NSW Parliament. Nominations close Friday 14 June 2024.
ALPHONSE MUCHA EXHIBITION FOR SYDNEYThe Art Gallery of New South Wales will present an exhibition showcasing the works of the art nouveau master Alphonse Mucha (1860 – 1939). Opening on 15 June, exclusive to Sydney, Alphonse Mucha: Spirit of Art Nouveau will lead viewers on a journey through his iconic artworks. The exhibition is supported proudly by Destination NSW.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS JT TRAVELS VISITS PORT STEPHENS AND HUNTER VALLEY: Destination NSW's partnership with Channel Seven’s Weekend Sunrise continues, with JT Travels NSW broadcasting live from Port Stephens and Hunter Valley on 18-19 May 2024. Learn more NORTH COAST TOURISM SYMPOSIUM AND AWARDS GALA DINNER: Destination North Coast is collaborating with Port Macquarie Hastings Council to deliver this year's event on 1 August 2024. Early bird tickets are on sale. Learn more GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM SUMMIT: Ecotourism Australia's inaugural 2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Summit will be held in Brisbane from 4-6 June 2024. Learn
more
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