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 CEO Bob East said that new flights into Cairns are 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 favorable time zone.”
Cairns saw a record five million passengers going through its airport this year—boosting business in Cairns itself as well as in the nearby holiday hotspots of Palm Cove and Port Douglas.”
Mantra Group Executive Director of Sales, Revenue and Distribution Luke Moran said that occupancies at Mantra Group properties in Cairns performed well above the industry-average this year, and occupancies are predicted to grow further in 2017.
“RevPAR at our Cairns properties has grown by nearly 12 percent in 2016, making it one of our fastest rising destinations,” Moran said. “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, all of which are expected to do well next year.
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.