Lodging Australia has launched its end-of-year report card, giving the lodging sector a robust “A-”, however worldwide vacationer arrivals, nonetheless beneath 2019 ranges, are stopping prime scores.
AA Chief Govt Officer James Goodwin stated occupancy figures revealed an improved efficiency total, with Perth main the best way adopted by Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide.
“The top of yr report card exhibits robust figures throughout most capital cities– scoring a stable A-,” he stated.
“An excellent mixture of worldwide sporting and cultural occasions, world class performers and festivals throughout the yr positively contributed to the outcomes in addition to renewed confidence in enterprise occasions and company journey.
“The rating would have been larger if we had managed to see extra worldwide vacationers all year long, with abroad arrivals nonetheless slightly below 2019 figures and excessive climate placing a dent in Gold Coast occupancy,
“The drive for the abroad greenback is definitely a spotlight in 2026 with hopes of a return to constant, robust numbers all year long.
“A file consequence for New Years’ Eve in Sydney gives a way of optimism heading into 2026.
“The excellent news is that the majority of Australia’s capital cities skilled a rise in common occupancy charges over 2025, with solely Brisbane seeing a really slight fall of 0.6% and the Gold Coast down 2.8%.
“The second half yr efficiency additionally noticed will increase within the common each day charge to simply over $230 with Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart all experiencing rises consistent with inflation.”
Goodwin stated Adelaide and Sydney scored significantly nicely too.
“Adelaide’s robust second six months had it ending the yr with a 5% enhance in occupancy charges, solely overwhelmed by Sydney CBD which noticed a 5.2% enhance to a median of 83.6% for 2025,” he stated.
The AA report card additionally revealed the impression of outdoor occasions, like excursions or climate, on resort room occupancy.
“The Gold Coast and Brisbane common occupancy for instance didn’t utterly get well the misplaced floor from the autumn in occupancy because of the cyclone in March,” he stated.
The Chair of Lodging Australia David Mansfield reported a optimistic outlook for the yr forward.
“There’s a robust sense that we will enhance demand by working collectively as a sector with governments and different tourism stakeholders for sustainable progress,” Mansfield stated.
Lodging Australia will launch its subsequent mid year-report card on the finish of June 2026
