Gold Coast accommodation: City needs 5500 new hotel rooms to meet tourism demand

The Gold Coast needs more than 5500 extra hotel rooms in the next decade to cope with surging visitation numbers, with a surprising revelation about the present day.

The Gold Coast needs more than 5500 extra hotel rooms in the next decade to cope with surging visitation numbers, overtaking Brisbane as the accommodation capital.

Tourism bosses say the Gold Coast is already the preferred location for visitors, even for major events being staged in Brisbane.

New data reveals this weekend’s British and Irish Lions game against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium is seeing a significant surge in hotel bookings across the Gold Coast as rugby fans pack into the region.

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Henry Pollock (L) and Ben White (R) of British & Irish Lions will play the Wallabies on Saturday in Brisbane (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said it underlined the need for more hotel development to help cater for events across the southeast.

“Saturday’s Game continues to be a significant boost to Gold Coast occupancy on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, which are sitting at a 72 per cent average across the three nights and 12 per cent higher than this time last year,” he said.

“This proves the attraction of our destination continues to be a drawcard, with world-class theme parks, buoyed recently with substantive new investment into new rides, and a range of incredible experiences visitors are seeking.”

Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn

By the time of the 2032 Olympic Games, the city’s hotel room stocks will sit around 26,500.

Among the new crop in the pipeline are the Ritz Carlton on The Spit, KTQ’s Kirra Point in the city’s south and the $500m Marina Mirage project which will become part of the Marriott’s Luxury Collection.

Others including Melbourne-based developer Tim Gurner’s proposed 185-room St Regis Hotel in Surfers Paradise have been approved but are yet to move towards being built.

Prolific Gold Coast developer Aniko Group is tipped to have luxury hotel-branded residences at the heart of its $2bn The Landmark project at Mermaid Beach which has begun construction.

Artist impression of Tim Gurner's Le Pelago tower at Budds Beach on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied by Gurner Group

It’s understood the company is negotiating with an internationally renowned hotel chain to operate it.

An existing hotel – the Vibe in Surfers Paradise – is about to undergo a multimillion revamp to become another Marriott-branded venue – the AC Hotel.

Mr Warn said the accommodation sector was “on a really solid path”.

“We’ve got a strong pipeline of upcoming luxury upper scale hotels that will support the ambitions of the city because we want to see and grow the high-yield visitor market,” he said.

“To future proof our destination we have to also invest further in mid-scale affordable and workforce accommodation and that’s probably more medium to long-term.

James Goodwin, CEO Accommodation Australia. Picture: Jane Dempster

“This really means by 2032 we need about (5000) more hotel rooms.

“We’ve got high demand for a quality offering and customers are coming to the Gold Coast. That’s really positive.”

Accommodation Australia CEO James Goodwin said the revitalisation of the Gold Coast’s existing hotel stock would complement new offerings being built.

“It is great they are reviewing their offerings for the market,” he said.

“There’s been consolidation in the market with some ownership, branding and the way hotels are pitching what they are offering.

“The Gold Coast is a tourist market but what we are seeing is not dissimilar to what we are seeing around the world.

“People are looking for value and for experiences.”

Editor’s note: The Bulletin acknowledges the Future Gold Coast sponsors for supporting this important series and notes sponsors have no control over the content or views expressed.