September
‘Pay to stay’: Average Sydney hotel room rate to hit $426 by 2033
Sydney will be the standout hotel market over the next decade as occupancy rises to 86pc and few new hotels are completed to keep up with demand.
- Larry Schlesinger
Holiday home rentals ‘not to blame’ for sky-high UK house prices
A global backlash against Airbnb properties has brewed in recent years, and some cities such as New York are severely restricting the company’s activity.
- Joe Wright
Greece to ban new short-term lets in Athens for at least a year
Like many other European tourism destinations, Greece must balance a profitable short-stay industry with the needs of locals facing a housing shortage.
- Stamos Prousalis and Angeliki Koutantou
- Opinion
- Opinion
Britain’s war on second-home owners is backfiring
Owners of second homes are selling up in record numbers in the wake of higher council taxes and the looming prospect of an increase in capital gains tax.
- Matthew Lynn
Investors claim mismanagement of Elanor’s $500m hotel fund
The $500 million hotel fund – part of a $6b real estate platform – is at the heart of refinancing issues facing the ASX-listed fund manager.
- Larry Schlesinger
Spain’s crackdown on holiday rentals bodes well for luxury hotels
Locals have staged protests, blaming booming short-term holiday lets for soaring costs of housing and crammed city streets.
- Joan Faus and Corina Pons
August
Airbnb boom hits a wall as landlords slash prices to lure tourists
A broad backlash from residents and resurgent interest in hotels has made life more difficult for property owners, forcing rates down in many popular areas.
- Larry Schlesinger
- Exclusive
- Hotels
Accor hotel brand to debut in Melbourne match factory
The former Redheads match factory in Melbourne’s Cremorne will be repurposed into the country’s first Hoxton designer hotel by developer Alfasi.
- Larry Schlesinger
Developers turn to micro apartments to fix housing crisis
Well-designed apartments smaller than 32 square metres can be rented out to singles and couples at rates below the market.
- Larry Schlesinger
Receivers appointed to sell Selina Australia’s ‘flashpacker’ hotels
The global budget hotel operator collapsed last month. Now its profitable Australian hotels are being sold by receivers acting on behalf of Dorado Capital.
- Larry Schlesinger
- Exclusive
- International students
Brookfield eyes $2b student beds portfolio
Canadian giant Brookfield spies opportunity for expansion in the sector, despite looming disruption from government caps on foreign student enrolments.
- Nick Lenaghan
- Exclusive
- Hotels
Why Australia’s biggest hotel is bringing in maggots
The Hyatt Regency at Darling Harbour is the first in the world to use the fly larvae to dispose of its food waste – and it certainly won’t be the last.
- Larry Schlesinger
July
Thai family targets distressed sellers for luxury hotel growth plans
Earp Siriphatrawan, whose family owns the 415-room Amora Jamison Sydney Hotel, says distressed vendors have created a buyer’s market.
- Larry Schlesinger
‘Business as usual’ for Selina’s Australian ‘flashpacker’ hotels
The collapse of budget accommodation operator Selina’s London-based parent company will not impact the operation of its Australian hotels, says chief operating officer.
- Larry Schlesinger
Historic pub to close after Rich Lister sells building, keeps pokies
Pub and pokies baron Bruce Mathieson exchanged contracts to buy the Captain Cook Hotel for $13.5m in late 2022. His BLM Group sold it this month for $6.6m.
- Larry Schlesinger
Kimberley beachfront eco resort with own airstrip hits the market
Eco Beach Resort sits just metres from the beach an hour south of Broome. It comes to market amid a boom in demand for luxury, eco-friendly resorts.
- Larry Schlesinger
Singaporean billionaire brings Hilton to Hobart
Koh Wee Meng’s Fragrance Group has ditched Accor’s Novotel brand and has instead appointed Hilton to run its new Hobart Hotel as a DoubleTree.
- Larry Schlesinger
Melbourne a launching pad for Hong Kong hotel brand
Lanson Place will open its first Australian property in September after spending $80m repurposing the former Salvation Army Printing Works in East Melbourne
- Larry Schlesinger
June
- Exclusive
- Hotels
Caravan king Gerry Ryan puts $50m safari lodge on the market
Gerry Ryan, the founder of Jayco Caravans, and an ex-Rich Lister, is selling the soon-to-be-finished hotel and glamping resort within the Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.
- Larry Schlesinger
The California wine hot spot that locals have only just discovered
The little-known Santa Ynez Valley behind Santa Barbara offers a delicious mix of ambitious restaurants and small-town vibes.
- Maria Shollenbarger