Darwin accommodation booked out 6 months ahead of record-breaking Darwin Cup weekend

DARWIN hotels have already been booked out for six months, and rates for Airbnbs have skyrocketed for what is expected to be the biggest Darwin Cup weekend in years.

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TOP End accommodation has been booked out over the Darwin Cup Carnival weekend for six months, while locals have been advertising their homes on Airbnb for as much as $1000 a night.

Hoteliers are also reporting very strong occupancy rates for the weekend of the GleNTi festival, as Australia’s Greek community make their way to the Top End for the event.

According to booking.com, 93 per cent of accommodation options in Darwin have been snapped up for the days surrounding Darwin Cup Day on August 2.

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Available properties on Airbnb are also scarce, with one three bedroom apartment in the Darwin CBD listed at $4332 for four nights.

DoubleTree Hotels NT cluster manager Todd Grierson said both of the Hilton hotels had been completely booked out over the Darwin Cup racing weekend for six months.

“The whole town pretty much is full,” Mr Grierson said.

“Typically we would sell out (for Darwin Cup weekend) but only the month before. This year it’s been almost six months.”

Mr Grierson said both the Hilton hotels had also been closed for bookings for about two months over GleNTi on June 12 and 13.

People flocked from all over the country for last year’s Darwin Cup. Picture: Che Chorley

Greek Orthodox Community of North Australia president Nick Poniris said they were struggling to find accommodation for people planning to come to Darwin.

“We actually do have a shortage of rooms because we’ve got more people coming in than expected,” he said.

“They’re coming from around the country, they’ve always wanted to come to GleNTi and this is the perfect opportunity because there’s no international travel.”

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said more rooms could become available as hotels hired more staff for the dry season.

“It is hoped that with some of the recent workplace announcements by the NT and Commonwealth governments, more capacity can go online,” Mr Bruce said.

“Already it is shaping up to be a bumper weekend for local restaurants and bars – the best cup weekend we have seen.”

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Originally published as Darwin accommodation booked out 6 months ahead of record-breaking Darwin Cup weekend