Geelong’s huge event weekend delivers for businesses, as NAB data shows customer spending increase

Spending data from a major bank has revealed just how big Geelong’s massive event weekend was for businesses around the city.

Revenue doubled at multiple Geelong businesses during the city’s biggest ever weekend of major events, with one bank service recording an almost 60 per cent increase in customer spending across all local hospitality venues.

And hospitality workers are labelling the city’s big weekend as “the best couple of days since Covid first closed us down”, with patrons flocking to the CBD’s bars, pubs and restaurants.

Splatters Cheese Bar owners were thrilled with the results from our mega weekend.

With the city anticipating an economic boost worth tens of millions of dollars over the weekend, National Australia Bank (NAB) on Monday shared transaction data which showed hospitality businesses were the biggest winners of the spending boom.

NAB transactions increased by 56 per cent at Geelong’s hospitality venues on Friday, when compared to the previous weekend, as international rock legends the Foo Fighters played at GMHBA Stadium.

Accommodation spending increased by 22 per cent according to the data, which may be an underestimate – with virtually no vacant rooms available in the region over the weekend.

Across the entire weekend total NAB customer spending increased by 6 per cent on the previous weekend.

Splatters Cheese Bar owner Jo Bangles said the new Pakington St venue was full for almost the entire weekend.

“It was a massive weekend for us, we almost doubled our revenue which is just incredible,” Ms Bangles said. “We had a full house from before the concert on Friday night right through to Sunday.

“It was really exciting to see lots of people visiting from out of town, we had visitors from across Victoria, from Sydney and even from Hamilton, the energy in town was spectacular.”

“Our [social media] followers have also gone up and we’re now taking bookings until the end of May. As a new business, we’re absolutely stoked with the traction.”

Publican Andrew Clark said business at the Cremorne Hotel, Wharf Shed and Commun Na Feinne had almost doubled over the weekend.

“We were very busy. There were lots of people out and about and coming to the pubs before they went to events,” Mr Clark said.

“It’s the best thing that’s happened since being closed for two years, and we’ve just had the best couple of days since Covid first closed us down.

“The people were out and about and they were happy and just excited to be out. I think Covid was the last thing they were thinking of.”

Piano Bar owner Andy Pobjoy said the city’s hospitality sector was recovering from Covid-19, “and it feels fantastic”.

“Saturday the buzz up and down Little Malop Street was huge, it was as busy as I can remember seeing it for the last six months,” Mr Pobjoy said.

Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine chief executive Brett Ince said the group was preparing a detailed economic assessment of the financial boost provided by the weekend of major events.

He last week said it was hoped the series of events would “bring tens of millions into the region”.

Originally published as Geelong’s huge event weekend delivers for businesses, as NAB data shows customer spending increase