Accommodation Occupancy Rates Best in Five Years

Throughout recent months I have had this statement affirmed to me by many local complex managers; all claiming to have had their best previous 12-month period since the GFC. I am told by most managers that since 2010 each year has shown a marked improvement in trend occupancy rates in turn positively influencing the nightly room rates achieved. This is welcomed news for many owners of holiday apartments who have been hit with a double-edged sword following the GFC with decreased returns and also increased expenses almost exclusively associated with rising strata-title insurance levies.

HOTELIERS in the Far North have had their best three months of occupancy rates in five years.

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The latest edition of the Tourism and Transport Forum-HOSTPLUS National Accommodation Barometer shows continuing strong demand for accommodation in Australia.

Forum chief executive John Lee said the industry was benefiting from the relatively strong Australian economy and popularity of short breaks.

“Demand for accommodation in our capitals, along with the Gold Coast and Cairns, is very strong at 81.3 per cent for the September quarter, on par with the same period in 2011,” he said.

“Pleasingly, Cairns saw an occupancy rate of 76.6 per cent for the quarter.

“Port Douglas saw very strong revenue per available room growth compared with the September 2011 quarter.”

Accor’s Cairns hotels finished last year with an average occupancy for its city hotels of 80.1 per cent, up more than 1 percentage point on 2011 and almost 9 percentage points ahead of the overall Cairns market.

A stand-out performed for the group was the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, which achieved its highest occupancy on record, averaged 84 per cent for the year.

Pullman Reef Hotel Casino general manager Wayne Reynolds said the strength of occupancy last year augured well for this year.

“...We saw an increase in meetings and conferences, along with growth in domestic leisure and inbound business, particularly from China...”

“Pleasingly, we saw an increase in meetings and conferences, along with growth in domestic leisure and inbound business, particularly from China,” he said.

Article printed in The Cairns Post – 31st January 2013

Peter Musso licensed real estate agent at Ray White Smithfield selling property in Cairns' beautiful northern beach suburbs including Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove, Trinity Park, Smithfield, Yorkeys Knob, Holloways Beach, Machans Beach, Caravonica, Kamerunga and surrounds.

Cairns Post: China Mulls Stronger Ties

Growing optimism is certainly evident within the local tourism industry in Cairns; Far North Queensland recently became the fastest growing region in Australia for Chinese travellers as a result of several major airlines commencing direct services. With rapid growth in visitors expected to continue throughout coming years the Chinese will place serious consideration into the establishment of a consulate in Cairns, just as the Japanese government did throughout the tourist boom in the 90's.

THE Chinese Government will consider establishing a consulate in Cairns after a call from business and tourism leaders.

The move comes as a second Chinese airline, China Southern, begins trial flights bringing travellers to the region tomorrow for the start of the Chinese New Year.

About 20,000 travellers are expected on the China Southern flights from Guangzhou as well as seven charters, China Eastern’s three-a-week services from Shanghai, Cathay Pacific’s daily flights from Hong Kong and on domestic flights from southern ports.

While a Canberra embassy spokeswoman said the Government believed its Brisbane-based consulate-general was capable of providing their citizens with consular assistance, it would be willing to discuss the suggestion.

“The consulate-general has provided effective consular protection and assistance to events involving Chinese citizens since the establishment (in Brisbane) and it is willing to further strengthen co-operation with the local authorities in Cairns in the future to provide Chinese citizens with a more convenient and timely consular assistance,” she said.

Advance Cairns chairman
Cam Charlton 

Advance Cairns chairman Cam Charlton said he was pleased with the response.

“They have left the door open… they haven’t said yes, they haven’t said no,” he said.

Mr Charlton said the embassy appeared to be watching developments in the Far North.

“Obviously they are keeping an eye on Cairns with the significant increase in the number of Chinese visitors,” he said.

Mr Charlton said the Japanese established a consulate in 1997 after their residents started flocking to the region in the 1980s and ‘90s.

A Cairns Chinese consulate would service the needs of their citizens as well as investment and business interests, he said.

Mr Charlton said a consulate would make the visa process easier for holidaymakers and business people travelling to China from Cairns.

It would also help “build and sustain” the direct flights by China Eastern and the soon-to-start trial services by China Southern, he said.

Mr Charlton said once Advance Cairns finalised its China Business Engagement and Investment Strategy it would meet Chinese consular officials in the next few months.

The Far North is the fastest-growing region in Australia for Chinese travellers with 110,000 a year, on target to reach 200,000 by 2015.

The Far North is the fastest-growing region in Australia for Chinese travellers with 110,000 a year, on target to reach 200,000 by 2015.

The Japanese have had a consulate in Cairns for 15 years, The British, Germans, Austrians, Swedish and Italians also have consular representatives based in the city.

Article printed in The Cairns Post – 29th January 2013

Peter Musso licensed real estate agent at Ray White Smithfield selling property in Cairns' beautiful northern beach suburbs including Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove, Trinity Park, Smithfield, Yorkeys Knob, Holloways Beach, Machans Beach, Caravonica, Kamerunga and surrounds.