Mantra Group expects Cairns to be the best performing travel destination in Australia in 2017, forecasting its current RevPAR growth to continue into the new calendar year.
Mantra Group Chief Executive Officer, Bob East, said the gateway city of Cairns is bursting with new flights, which is creating strong demand for accommodation providers in the region.
“The increased air-capacity, flight affordability and the proliferation of low cost carriers into Cairns, particularly from Asia and in addition to an active domestic market, has boosted occupancies in recent years,” East said.
“Cairns is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities presented out of Asia, particularly with its large leisure travel market attracted by Cairns’ close proximity, single flight offering and favourable time zone.
“A record five million passengers passed through Cairns Airport this year, which not only bolstered business in Cairns but also in the nearby holiday hotspots of Palm Cove and Port Douglas.”
Mantra Group Executive Director of Sales, Revenue and Distribution, Luke Moran, said occupancies at Mantra Group properties in Cairns performed well above the industry-average this year, which is trading at 83.5% year to date, and occupancies are forecasted to grow further in 2017.
“RevPAR at our Cairns properties has grown by nearly 12% in 2016, making it one of our fastest rising destinations,” said Moran.
“We’re also seeing a smoothing of the city’s traditional seasonal demand curve with high occupancies being achieved year-round.”
Other leading destinations in Australia this year are Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Noosa, Hobart and Launceston and they’re also forecasted to continue to perform strongly in the New Year.
These rising occupancy rates and RevPAR growth across the country are supporting a wave of new-build hotels for the Group.
In 2017, Tribe West Perth, Mantra’s Sydney Airport hotel and Mantra Macarthur Hotel in Canberra will open under Mantra Group’s management.
“Updating our existing hotel product with high quality refurbishments is also a key priority for our Group in the New Year,” said East.