Townsville hotels report ‘massive’ demand for Origin night

Townsville hotels have been inundated with inquiries and bookings as the city prepares to host its first State of Origin.

Demand for hotel rooms in Townsville has skyrocketed as the city prepares to host its first State of Origin in nine days.

Booking.com data shows 92 per cent of places to stay in Townsville are unavailable on June 9, while Wotif.com has just 14 properties available in Townsville for that night. 

Quest Townsville manager Faye Gird said demand for hotel rooms had been massive, with inquiries for group bookings of 20 to 60 rooms coming through. 

“Demand has been massive,” Ms Gird said.

“Booking inquiries for 20, 30, 60 rooms are just continuously coming through.”

The Hotel Grand Chancellor Townsville said all rooms had been booked out last Friday. 

Newmarket Hotel Townsville owner Richard Mraz said his 15 rooms have been reserved for Origin night, and he was thrilled about the “shot in the arm for north Queensland”.

Richard Mraz, project manager at Newmarket Hotel Townsville

“This is great news; Townsville is just really starting to stretch its legs and this is what the stadium was designed to do, when they announced it three years ago it was about how do we get Townsville back on the map and get the economy running and it’s working,” Mr Mraz said.

Mr Mraz, owner of The Newmarket Hotel on Flinders, said he will have the best hotel in the country for two hours. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“My hotel is directly across from the stadium, I’m stoked, for two hours I will have the best located hotel in the country.

“It’ll be a hectic day tomorrow.”

Townsville Chamber of Commerce CEO Ross McLennan said how Townsville would meet demand for accommodation was the “big question” to be answered ahead of the game.

“I think north Queenslanders are renowned for getting things done, when we were doing the V8s the same fears were there when it first started and we built tent cities, rented outed people’s homes, so I’m sure north Queenslanders will welcome everyone and we will work out a way of doing it with 10 days’ notice,” he said.

“When there is a will there’s a way.

“They will talk about this for 50 years, the time Origin came to town.”

Mr McLennan said the Origin was fantastic news for the city’s economy, but current Queensland Health restrictions would prevent hospitality businesses from taking full advantage of the game.

Indoor premises such as restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs are restricted to one person per two square metres, effectively halving their capacity.

“We must look at these restrictions that are still on businesses, we are hearing that loud and clear from our members,” Mr McLennan said.

Byron Piggott, 13, Tayla Byrne, 13, and Baiden McBride, 13, gearing up for Townsville’s State of Origin.

Originally published as Townsville hotels report ‘massive’ demand for Origin night