March 2025

Strengthening the Future:  Accommodation Australia's 2025 Election Priorities
04 March AccomNews:  With the 2025 Federal Election fast approaching, Accommodation Australia is calling on all political parties to back the policies that will future-proof the accommodation industry and support its ongoing recovery.

February 2025

Road Map for Industry Recovery
20 February Hotel Magazine:  Accommodation Australia CEO James Goodwin has revealed its road map for the local Accommodation industry's recovery.

Accommodation Australia Outlines Industry Roadmap to Recovery
19 February Hotel Magazine:  Accommodation Australia (AA) is calling for greater supports for the sector to combat persistent challenges ahead of a looming federal election.

Roadmap Unveiled for Accommodation Industry Recovery!
19 February EGlobal Travel Media:  With a federal election looming, Accommodation Australia has laid out what the sector needs to help it overcome staffing and cost of living pressures and return to pre-pandemic profitability.  As part of its extensive pre-budget submission, Accommodation Australia has outlined 24 recommendations across six broad categories, including skills, migration, tourism, short-term rental reforms, energy, and tax and small business support measures.

ACCC gives okay to new Qatar Airways flights for Virgin Australia due to start in June
18 February Herald Sun:  Treasurer Jim Chalmers is all that stands between Virgin Australia and a deeper partnership with Qatar Airways after the competition watchdog gave preliminary approval for more flights to Doha from June.

Hospitality's Roadmap for Recovery:  Accomodation Australia calls for Action Ahead of Federal Election
18 February 2025 Accom News:  AA's 24 key recommendations span skills development, migration, tourism, short-term rental reforms, energy tax and small business support.

Hoteliers Say Short Term Rental Investors Fuelling Housing Crisis
17 February 2025 Australian Financial Review:  The country's biggest hoteliers say Airbnb and other short-term rental accommodation providers such as Stayz should be forced to pay big fees and properties allowed to be leased for only three months a year.

January 2025

Overseas Travel Boomming at the Expense of Domestic Tourism, new data shows
16 Januay The Australian Business Network:  Australians are heading overseas for holidays to stretch their travel budget further, leading to a flatlining of domestic tourism in December in a blow to operators.  New data from the Bureau of Statistics and Tourism Research Australia showed the growth in outboound travel as opposed to inbound, at the same time as domestic visitor nights stalled.

2025 Takes Flight:  Accommodation Sector Starts the Year Strong
07January AccomNews:  Australia’s accommodation sector is defying the weight of cost-of-living challenges, with solid bookings setting the stage for a vibrant January school holiday period. According to figures released by Accommodation Australia, the industry is soaring, with occupancy levels across most capitals outpacing last year’s performance.

Solid Start:  Accommodation Australia CEO welcomes uptick in school holiday bookings
07 January Hotel Management:  Accommodation Australia has welcomed a “positive” start to 2025 with solid accommodation bookings over the January school holiday period.

Accommodation Australia hoeful sector 'will surpass 2024 performance' after January boost
06 January Drinks Trade:  Australia's accommodation sector has welcomes strong momentum leading into 2025, with forward bookings up 4.6% in December and 4% in January when compared to the year prior.  Additional, year-to-date occupancy for 2024 finished at 71.4%, up 1.8% on 2023.  Accommodation Australia CEO James Goodwin believes this positive trajectory "suggests occupancy will surpass 2024 performance" over the coming year.

Hawaii annd New Zealand among the quick-fix getaways budget-wary Aussies are opting for this year
05 January Daily Telegraph Australia:  Australians can turn 20 days of paid leave into as many as 50 days of holidays with just a little bit of planning, according to the experts at flight aggregator Skyscanner.  For example, since Australia Day falls on a Sunday this year, you can book a flight on January 25 and ask for January 28-31 off to carve out a nine-day escape.

November 2024

Accommodation Australia secures $10 million grant for innovative careers and training platform (Hotel Management)
11 December 2024:  Accommodation Australia and Minister for Tourism and Travel, Don Farrell, have unveiled a digital careers and training platform to address key challenges in the tourism, hospitality and travel industries.

New Platform Tackes Tourism Workforce Shortages (EGlobal Travel Media)
11 December 2024:  The Tourism, Hospitality and Travel industries in Australia are set to experience a transformative shift with the announcement today of eeger – a careers and training platform designed to address the challenges of workforce development, skills shortages and career growth in these vital sectors. 

Eeger: Game-changer for Australia’s tourism, hospitality, and travel workforce (Accom News)
10 December 2024:  Developed and managed by Accommodation Australia, the platform is designed to tackle workforce development challenges, skills shortages, and career growth

New-Look Accommodation Australia Board Gears for Election! (EGlobal Travel Media)
29 November 2024:  The Accommodation Australia Board has rejuvenated itself in the lead up to the 2025 Federal election, with four new appointments boosting experience and nationwide representation for the peak industry body.

New-look Accommodation Australia Board Ready for an Election Year (The Hotel Conversation)
28 November 2024:  The Accommodation Australia Board has rejuvenated itself in the lead up to the 2025 Federal election, with four new appointments boosting experience and nationwide representation for the peak industry body.

PROFILE:  James Goodwin CEO of Accommodation Australia (Travel Weekly Australia)
18 October 2024:  Just a few weeks into his new role, former Australian Airports Association head James Goodwin finds himself with similar challenges ahead in his new role as CEO of Accommodation Australia. He speaks to Travel Weekly about skills shortages, sustainability, luxury accommodation, cost of living, business travel, membership drives and champagne meetings.