<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/smith-by-valli-collingwood-224-228-smith-street-collingwood-vic-3066">Smith Collingwood</a> is a new boutique apartment development bringing a refined, design-led approach to one of Melbourne’s most established inner-city neighbourhoods.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pandolfini-architects">Pandolfini Architects</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/lisa-buxton-interiors">Lisa Buxton</a>, Smith by Valli sits on iconic Smith Street and comprises just 22 residences tailored toward owner-occupiers seeking a more considered style of apartment living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140747 project_image_fid=367540]

The design of Smith focuses on a north-facing orientation across all residences, a relatively uncommon feature in dense inner-Melbourne settings. Each apartment has been planned to maximise natural light and outlook, alongside a material palette defined by warm tones, custom joinery, and a full suite of Gaggenau appliances.

The development comprises a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with pricing currently ranging from just under $1 million to around $4.85 million for the premium penthouse-level residences, reflecting growing demand for luxury owner-occupier product in Melbourne’s inner urban market.

Residents will also have access to a private rooftop garden designed as an elevated retreat above the city, &nbsp;featuring curated landscaping, veggie boxes, intimate seating areas and spaces for relaxed gatherings. Sustainability has also been integrated into the project through a 7-star energy rating and two secure bicycle facilities for every residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140747 project_image_fid=367529]

Smith by Valli sits in the heart of one of Melbourne’s most established retail and hospitality strips, within walking distance of venues such as Falco Bakery, Carnation Canteen and Alimentari, alongside parks and everyday services. With a Walk Score of 99, the location reinforces the project’s positioning toward buyers prioritising walkability and access over car dependency.

With only a limited number of residences, Smith reflects growing demand for smaller, highly curated apartment developments that prioritise design quality, liveability, and connection to neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140747]

Joel Robinson

Smith by Valli delivers a refined collection of luxury residences to Melbourne’s inner north

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/far-east-consortium">Far East Consortium</a>’s 640 Bourke Street stands as a testament to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">Melbourne</a>’s ability to bridge its storied past with a bold vision for the future.&nbsp;

Rising above the heritage-listed Eliza Tinsley building, the development reflects a broader shift toward adaptive reuse in the city, where historical assets are retained and reinterpreted as part of new residential development.

Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street</a> incorporates the Eliza Tinsley building as its foundation, housing a grand gallery and lobby space that serve as both a functional and symbolic centrepiece. The heritage façade informs the tower’s design, creating a connection between Melbourne’s past and its contemporary skyline.

"It's a significant asset and wants to be celebrated and experienced by all residents every single time they go in and out of the building," Rothelowman Principal Stuart Marsland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365684]

Above this historic base, the 68-storey tower will deliver just over 600 residences, a notable reduction from earlier schemes, reflecting a deliberate move toward larger-format apartments and a stronger owner-occupier focus.

Unlike traditional CBD developments that prioritised investor stock, 640 Bourke Street has been repositioned to respond to changing buyer expectations.

"The discussion was all around making 640 Bourke Street the best residence to live in, to be much more focused on the people in the building rather than people looking at the building," Marsland explained.&nbsp;

This shift is evident in the development’s interiors, which emphasise practical luxury with spacious layouts, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping views of Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay.&nbsp;

“What it's meant for 640 Bourke is we've actually reduced the number of apartments. We've increased the overall size of the apartments. We don't have any studios in here, and what that does for a project is it elevates it," Lauren Sheldon, Far East Consortium’s Director of Sales and Marketing, said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365687]

Rothelowman Associate Jun Chang added, "We were given the opportunity to be more generous. The apartments became bigger and squarer than any other apartments which had been designed in the CBD before that."&nbsp;

Amenities spanning more than 3,000 sqm across multiple levels further reinforce this focus on resident experience. These include a pool, gym, co-working areas, and a range of hospitality-inspired spaces such as a whisky lounge, library, and private dining rooms, many drawing reference from traditional bathhouses and Melbourne’s laneway culture.

"We wanted to make both the pool and the gym area to be absolutely destinational, and when you traverse across to these spaces, there is a gentle familiarity to the beautiful notions of the hammams and the Roman baths, a gentle nod to history," Chang noted.

At street level, the project contributes to the ongoing transformation of the western CBD, with upgrades to Langs Lane and the introduction of retail, hospitality, and gallery spaces designed to activate the precinct and strengthen its connection to the surrounding city fabric.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365689]

The location places residents within walking distance of Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, and the Docklands waterfront, positioning the development within a rapidly evolving inner-city neighbourhood.

"We believe it's the best site left in the city of Melbourne," Craig Williams, Executive Director at Far East Consortium, said.&nbsp;

640 Bourke Street is Far East Consortium’s 14th building in Melbourne’s western CBD.

"A very elegant designed building. It's going to be a Melbourne statement for many, many years to come."

One-bedroom apartments are priced from around $640,000, with 640 Bourke Street targeting completion in 2029.

Renders shown are Artist's Impressions correct as of May 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=509]

Heritage-led design anchors Far East Consortium’s 640 Bourke St, Melbourne

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD Group</a> has set a new residential price record in Queensland with the $30 million sale of the penthouse at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/one-burleigh-88-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">ONE Burleigh</a> development in Burleigh Heads.

The sale equates to around $37,500 per sqm.

The two-level, 800 sqm penthouse, featuring five bedrooms, five bathrooms, five car spaces, and a private infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was acquired by a Gold Coast-based entrepreneur, highlighting continued demand for ultra-premium beachfront product.

Selling agent Freddie Tehle of PRD Burleigh Heads said the result reflects tightening supply of high-quality, large-format apartments in Burleigh.

“There’s very limited opportunity to secure this level of scale and absolute beachfront position in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Burleigh Heads</a>,” Tehle said.

“Buyers are increasingly seeking apartments that genuinely replace a standalone home, and this penthouse delivers that with its size, privacy, and direct ocean frontage.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323057]

The sale comes as construction progresses on ONE Burleigh, a boutique development of 17 full-floor residences at 88 The Esplanade, scheduled for completion in early 2027.

Developed by MAYD Group and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mas-architecture-studio">MAS Architecture</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/sici-design">Sici Design</a>, the project has been positioned as a collection of house-sized beachfront apartments, each occupying an entire floor with around 381 sqm of internal and external living space.

When construction commenced, MAYD director Todd Mould pointed to the long-term resilience of premium coastal real estate as a key driver behind the project.

“Real estate, particularly at the premium end, remains one of the most resilient and proven long-term investment avenues,” Mould said.

“Our ambition is that anyone who buys a MAYD-built product can genuinely feel the care, craftsmanship and commitment we bring to every detail.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323055]

Each residence has been configured with four bedrooms, multiple living zones, a private office, and expansive ocean-facing terraces. Interiors draw on a restrained material palette, including travertine stone, timber joinery, and integrated premium appliances.

Interior designer Sici Design said the approach was to reflect the project’s coastal setting through both materiality and spatial planning.

“ONE Burleigh is our vision of luxury living, designed to bring the essence of Burleigh Heads' vibrant coastal beauty into an unparalleled residential experience.”

Residents will have access to a suite of wellness-focused amenities, including pools, sauna facilities, and dedicated relaxation spaces, reflecting a broader shift toward lifestyle-driven apartment design on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323052]

The project occupies a southern Esplanade site with uninterrupted beachfront frontage, an increasingly rare offering in Burleigh Heads, free from the Norfolk Pines that line much of the coastline and often limit direct ocean outlook.

Mould said the design intent was to balance that outlook with a sense of retreat.

“Living at ONE Burleigh is about how your day naturally unfolds, morning light across the ocean, coffee on the balcony, and being in Burleigh but elevated above the noise.”

The result further reinforces Burleigh Heads’ emergence as one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held and supply-constrained beachfront markets, where boutique, owner-occupier-focused developments are increasingly setting new price benchmarks.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146358]

MAYD Group sets Queensland record with $30 million penthouse sale at ONE Burleigh in Burleigh Heads

Apartment developers in the Gold Coast are finding new, creative ways to differentiate themselves from competing projects, as new supply starts to flow through up and down the Coast.

Developer BIG Projects brought in the renowned Sydney-based design studio YSG Studio to craft the interiors for The Frederick, BIG Projects' new Mermaid Beach project and YSG Studio's first move into the multi-residential development space.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5346]

It was a strategic move for BIG Projects to bring in a Sydney eye to the development.

“Our role is to give our design partners the space and freedom to explore,” says Matt Barrett, Director of BIG Projects.

“We wanted YSG Studio to capture the essence of Nobby’s, to design a building that embraces life, light and connection, while creating a genuine sense of place.”

There are only 39 apartments in The Frederick, including a striking beach house, just 100 metres from the booming Nobby Beach precinct.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5347]

Yasmine Ghoniem, Director of YSG Studio, says their vision&nbsp;for The Frederick "reinvents coastal living."

“Nobby’s has such an iconic energy, it’s one of those rare pockets of the Gold Coast where the community, the beach, and the streets all feel connected,” Ghoniem says.

"Responding to the neighbouring coastline, soothing curves add a relaxing regional overlay, while unique detailing really sets it apart. It’s a place that feels lived in from the moment you step inside.”

A standout feature of The Frederick is its rooftop terrace, an uncommon inclusion for a boutique, low-rise building, where amenity is typically concentrated at ground level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5360]

Positioned to capture panoramic views from the hinterland to the ocean, the rooftop has been designed as a series of intimate zones. It includes a pool, sauna, sun decks, workspaces and dedicated entertaining areas.

“The rooftop was conceived as a collection of spaces where residents can unwind and connect, an extension of the Nobby’s lifestyle,” Barrett says.

Architecture for the project was led by Plus Studio, with landscape design by LDG Landscape Architecture.

SRQ Projects Director Nick Clydsdale, who is handling sales at The Frederick, says the majority of enquiry is coming from South East QLD and Victorian buyers who have been actively searching between Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach for some time.

"They’ve reviewed a number of projects, however this one has stood out for its unique detailing and compelling design,"&nbsp;Clydsdale says.

Site demolition is slated for this month, with construction commencing soon after. BIG Projects is targeting a late 2027 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=110588]

Sydney’s YSG Studio makes Gold Coast multi-residential debut with BIG Projects at The Frederick

Melbourne-based property developer ALTA Property has this week achieved planning approval for the adaptive re-use of a former commercial tower into a $200 million, 169-apartment project at 10 Queens Road, one of the last developable sites along the Albert Park Lake-fronting boulevard.&nbsp;

Set within one of Melbourne’s most sought-after precincts and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser and Partners</a>, the illustrious building will offer unparalleled views across Albert Park Lake, Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne CBD.&nbsp;

The mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom residences will be complemented by a ground-floor amenity featuring private dining, a lounge bar, gym and wellness spaces, co-working, outdoor communal gardens, and retail.&nbsp;

The 17-storey building is a masterclass in adaptive re-use, with the existing commercial building’s façade, shell and internal structure to be retained, before high-end residences are built from the ground up in a newly built Albert Park facing addition to the building.&nbsp;

Sitting atop the building will be two 320+sqm penthouses with private rooftop terraces, which are expected to be priced between $9 - $11 million.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa11211b-5581-43f9-940c-fc84d30a0e61" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/C_04.png?VersionId=Yhf5p_1EgGDu_zOIMFgvA8Ug8j3sTFQs" />

Architecturally, the building will feature a curved, geometric façade that celebrates and elevates the existing structure, with warm, muted tones which were selected to extend the materiality of the existing building rather than contrast it.&nbsp;

Interiors will bring together three metre high ceilings with waffle concrete in some spaces, natural timber, granite and Australian materials, culminating in crafted, generous and considered spaces that are defined by authenticity.&nbsp;

The adaptive re-use means that the Queens Road project will be a sustainability led, high-quality finished product, with a 62% saving in carbon emissions by re-using the existing structure rather than knocking it down and rebuilding.&nbsp;

ALTA Property was launched by Nigel Givoni in 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience in multi level residential delivery.&nbsp;

Melbourne’s property market growth is currently led by apartments. According to RPM VIC Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report (April 2026), units are outpacing houses, especially in the middle ring suburbs where median prices hit $757,500 – a four-year high that represents 2.9 percent growth quarter-on-quarter.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="647e13d7-b4bc-433a-9bc9-fe3c3dd4f2ec" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/V_06.png?VersionId=ou4NUCWUgA3NAy.6CQJlEdKX50j3dOk6" />

For ALTA Property Founder Nigel Givoni, this performance speaks to the confidence he has in the Melbourne market.&nbsp;

“Queens Road represents a rare opportunity to continue to shape our presence in the Melbourne market.,"&nbsp;Givoni says.

"With a considered project team and a premier site along one of the city’s most sought-after boulevards, we look forward to contributing to the fabric of this established address.

“Other Australian markets are getting a lot of attention, but I believe the depth of value in Melbourne is being overlooked. The fundamentals are strong, population growth is steady and, based on our preliminary conversations with a leading builder, construction costs are beginning to normalise, creating further opportunity."

Givoni says the project is a&nbsp;highly considered example of adaptive re-use, delivering quality, high-end residences, premium hotel-inspired amenities and an architecturally striking façade, all achieved without the need to remove the existing structure.

"We are really looking forward to the market’s response,” he said.&nbsp;

ALTA Property to deliver $200 million Queens Road apartment tower

Deloitte

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EXPERT OBSERVER
It’s clearly been a tough year for many retailers, with 47% of our survey respondents [in Deloitte's Retailers' Christmas Survey 2019] telling us they’ve experienced flat or negative sales growth over the past 12 months.
So it’s probably no surprise many are also approaching this Christmas with a little less cheer, certainly compared to last year.
Just over 60% are expecting to increase their sales this Christmas, compared to 80% in 2018, and nearly 40% are also expecting to see a decrease in seasonal margins. This is, unfortunately, the most pessimistic we’ve seen retailers since 2013.
Many have pinned their hopes on federal government tax cuts, but the latest trading data suggests consumers have chosen to keep any windfall in their pockets. Retailers are no doubt hoping they’ve been saving up for Christmas.
As always, when to discount and by how much remains a critical decision for retailers over the holiday period. Last year they told us they were intent on holding strong. But with difficult trading conditions 12 months later, this will be challenging, with 39% of retailers planning to discount before Christmas compared to 31% last year, and 30% in early December. 
And with the proliferation of sales campaigns such as next week’s Black Friday leading into December, many are concerned this could bring forward Christmas trading at discounted prices.
Getting personal
The cautious consumer has brought good old customer service back to the fore, as retailers can no longer rely on buoyant spending to drive in-store trade.
Over a quarter of respondents highlighted customer service as the most important driver of sales this Christmas, just behind digital and omni-channel offerings.
These two strategies aren’t mutually exclusive. Forming a strong digital connection with the consumer is critical to building trust in the brand, regardless of where the customer spends, and this connection to the customer flows through to loyalty. 
Over 90% of respondents consider their customer loyalty as good or strong, but brand loyalty is also hard won and easily lost. In the era of cancel culture, retailers need to understand the reasons when things go wrong, and how dealing with a poor customer experience via exceptional customer service can protect, and even enhance, brand reputation and the value this can deliver.
Looking for green shoots in 2020
There are signs of more optimism amongst retailers for their prospects in 2020.
They’re still hoping for the best, with some 72% expecting to bounce back and grow their top line. But with most not forecasting growth in excess of 5%, it still looks like another challenging year ahead.  
New products and online will remain key to growth prospects, and only 11% of retailers are expecting to grow through new store openings, down from a peak of 43% in 2017. 
Rising input costs following the depreciation of the Australian dollar are also expected to bite when it comes to margins, and respondents continue to look to the likes of property costs as levers to reduce bottom line impacts.
It’s certainly critical that within the retail ecosystem, retailers, suppliers and landlords work together, rather than against each other. 
Ultimately, uncertainty kills confidence, and global economic turbulence certainly isn’t helping. Australian retailers will be waiting for a recovery in wage and jobs growth to provide a boost where interest rates and government tax cuts fail to provide the stimulus needed.
Profit AND purpose: big room for improvement
The survey report also looks at Australian retailer views on social impact their operations.
Consumers, employees and other stakeholders are increasingly expecting companies to operate in a responsible manner, from ethical sourcing, using sustainable materials and packaging, and reducing carbon emissions to the fair treatment of employees on pay and conditions and making a meaningful contribution to communities and society more broadly.
In a real concern, 42% of respondents believe social, ethical and environmental responsibility isn’t important to their brand.
Yet in the same breath, 91% believe they enjoy good or strong customer brand loyalty. There’s a concerning perception gap here. If Australian retailers don’t quickly grasp the reality of increasing stakeholder expectations, and respond in a considered, meaningful and, importantly, authentic way, consumers may vote with their wallets, and employees with their feet.
David White is the national leader of Deloitte’s Retail, Wholesale &amp; Distribution Group.
Deloitte's Retailers' Christmas Survey 2019 survey findings include:
<ul>
<li>Only 62% of retailers expect to see higher sales this Christmas compared to last year, down from 80% last year</li>
<li>Just under 40% are expecting to see some form of Christmas period margin decrease</li>
<li>39% will be discounting pre-Christmas to help drive sales</li>
<li>Digital continues to be a standout, with 58% expecting to see growth of 10% or more in online Christmas sales</li>
<li>72% expect to see positive sales growth in calendar year 2020, down from more than 90% for 2019. </li>
</ul>
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Positive retail sentiment is down as important Christmas trading period approaches: Deloitte

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Storm clouds are gathering over Australia’s housing market as NSW and Victoria's price growth boom was borrowed from the future and they will have to pay back some of it, according to a recent Del­oitte Access Economics’ report.
Home building will likely shrink further amid “increasing evidence that gravity may soon start to catch up with stupidity in housing markets,” noted Chris Richardson of Deloitte Access Economics in its quarterly outlook.
The report, while summarising the state of the world economy and its impact on Australia, said “the jump from a China boom to a housing price boom sent the nation’s money and momentum from its north and west towards its south and east”. 
The outlook from Deloitte is the latest in a series of warnings about the risks to Australia's economy from the housing market. Earlier, Citi had said property prices could fall by as much as 7 percent as the housing boom unwinds by 2018.
The report picked NSW and Victoria as having “clay feet”, saying a house price boom borrows growth from the future, and both states will have to pay back some of that in the years ahead “as today’s housing prices gradually reconnect with reality”.
It noted that NSW benefited from the shift to lower interest and exchange rates since 2012. 
“But storm clouds are building, as the housing price boom has artificially supported retail and home building. There’ll be an eventual butcher’s bill to pay as those supports reverse,” Richardson noted.
Victoria has benefited as key cyclical drivers – exchange and interest rates – moved in a ‘Victoria- friendly’ direction in recent years. And though Victoria is experiencing its strongest population gains for many a decade but its population and housing cycles may be near their peaks, it said.
In Queensland, Cyclone Debbie and slowing housing construction are current negatives, but Debbie’s impact will be temporary and gas exports are lifting, it said.
The report warned that the “gargantuan Chinese credit surge is finally easing back”, suggesting that “the global economy won’t be doing Australia quite as many favours from 2018 onwards”. 
Amid all the grim warnings of the risks from the housing market, the report said those were the only caveats  on an otherwise solid outlook. 
“Relative to the rest of the rich world, Australia’s economic outlook may not be quite as impressive as it once was, but we are still kicking goals,” it said.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Gravity catching up with stupidity in housing markets: Deloitte report

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Australia’s tourism sector remains a shining light for the nation’s economy, with strong growth in both international and domestic visitor numbers, according to Deloitte Access Economics’ latest Tourism and Hotel Market Outlook report.
International tourism
While strong macroeconomic tailwinds eased marginally as the Australian dollar edged up, international visitor arrivals continued to grow at record pace, after accelerating over 2016.
The growth Australia is experiencing is the fastest in a generation and is seeing it outpace both global performance and travel across the Asia Pacific.
In fact, international visitation to Australia is growing at nearly three times the rate of global travel.
As Deloitte Access Economics’ Bryon Merzeo observes: “Against any reference point, the performance of the Australian tourism industry is remarkable – the fastest growth and faster than our global competitors are achieving.”
“What is especially encouraging about the growth we’re witnessing in international travel is its broad-based nature.
Although emerging Asia continued to underwrite much of Australian tourism’s strength, Asian travellers only accounted for 50 percent growth in visitor arrivals in 2016, compared to 70% the year prior.”
While markets such as China, India, South Korea and Vietnam continued their double digit growth, many of Australia’s oldest legacy markets also performed strongly, with Japan defying a sluggish local economy to post growth of 23 percent and the US shaking off economic and political uncertainty to record arrivals growth of 18 percent.
Domestic tourism
On the domestic front, the good news continues, with leisure travel sustaining its momentum to grow by 8.2 percent over the year to September.  
As Merzeo notes: “Our report confirms that, for the sixth consecutive year, more Australians are travelling at home, and they’re travelling to Australia’s leisure favourites.
Successful promotional campaigns on food, wine and coastal tourism have contributed to a 6 percent increase in domestic guests at Cairns and Hobart airports, and double digit visitor night growth for both Western Australia and Southern Australia.”
Domestic corporate travel growth, however, slowed considerably to 2.3 percent as the weaker economic performance observed over the latter part of 2016 weighed on business travel, although the strength of the domestic leisure segment was sufficient to keep overall domestic travel growth at above trend.
Hotel performance
Despite the sustained strength of Australia’s tourism sector, performance of the hotel sector was restrained over the latter half of last year.
A significant contributor to this was growth in supply. At around 4,900 new rooms, the nationwide additional supply in 2016 was almost double the 15 year average.
However, performance was also affected by variable demand side conditions.
Merzeo explains: “The weaker demand observed across many markets partly reflects the softening of corporate travel, which accounts for one in three capital city hotel nights on average and considerably more for some individual properties.
However, it also suggests that leisure travellers are increasingly looking beyond traditional options for their holiday accommodation.
“They are clearly enjoying the choice and variety of accommodation offered by the likes of Airbnb.
Leisure travellers’ use of non-traditional accommodation increased by 11.5 percent in 2016, contributing to 8.7 percent growth in use of this form of accommodation overall.
Despite this, it was Australia’s leisure destinations leading the way in terms of hotel market performance:
Tasmania tourism continues to go from strength to strength, with Hobart overtaking Perth to assume third place in the occupancy rankings
Gold Coast and Tropical North Queensland maintained strong hotel performance growth over the second half of 2016
The mantle of the nation’s highest occupancies remained with Sydney (89 percent) and Melbourne (88 percent), while strong supply growth weighed on performance in Perth and Brisbane.
Tourism outlook
Merzeo said: “The outlook for the chief macroeconomic drivers of travel and tourism remains conducive to the super growth sector continuing to re-write the record books.
“Despite increased global political uncertainty, the economic growth prospects across key source markets remain sound.”
Deloitte Access Economics forecasts international visitor trips to grow by 6.3 percent p.a. and visitor nights by 6.2 percent p.a. on average over the next three years – a marginally stronger outlook.
The growth will be led by India at 13 percent, closely followed by Indonesia and China at 10 percent.
“On current forecasts, we expect by 2020 that the value of inbound tourism from China will exceed the entire inbound international tourism market as it stood in 2000,” Merzeo said.
For domestic tourism, the story remains one of resurgent leisure travel, coupled with a transitioning economy and a corporate travel profile slowly re-orientating to the nation’s south-east.
With economic conditions expected to strengthen over the next two years, this points to a solid outlook for domestic travel with domestic trips forecast to grow by 3.3% p.a. and visitor nights to grow by 3.2% p.a. on average over the next three years.
Hotel outlook
A number of demand-side factors, including shifting corporate travel trends, historically high international arrivals growth and the increasing use of non-traditional accommodation options, are bearing heavily on the outlook for hotel markets.
However, the single biggest influence on the performance outlook is supply.
Merzeo said: “After years of record occupancies and rising room rates, investors and developers have finally responded.
The sizeable development pipeline which has emerged in Perth and Brisbane and which saw large additions to inventories in 2016 is being replicated in markets such as Sydney, Hobart and Melbourne, albeit to a lesser degree.”
Over the next two years, another 12,800 rooms are expected to come online, resulting in the nation’s hotel supply growing 2.5 times faster than its long term average rate.
In aggregate, Australian stocks are expected to expand by 122 properties and 15,800 rooms to December 2019.
The total pipeline of tourism-related investment stands at $29 billion, up from $17 billion three years ago.
Two-thirds of the investment pipeline is accommodation.
As Merzeo notes: “Yes, demand growth will still outpace growth in supply nationally.
But the gap between the two has narrowed markedly over recent years and the number of markets where supply growth is outpacing demand has increased.”
Room rates are expected to grow at an average of 2.5 percent p.a. for the next three years to $170 per night, chasing the 10 year historical average growth rate of 2.6%, while revenue per available room (RevPAR) is expected to grow by 3.1% to a national average of $123 by 2019.
Markets enjoying recent buoyant performance such as Hobart, Melbourne and, to an extent, Adelaide, have now established a solid pipeline of hotel developments, which will alter the demand/supply dynamics over the medium term.
“In a clear demonstration of the economics of hotel development at work, investors have clearly responded to the commercial opportunities in these markets,” says Merzeo.
Perth and Brisbane hoteliers will continue to feel the double-pinch of increased competition from new entrants, along with moderate demand growth compared to the mining boom peaks of five years ago.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Tourism growth a shining light as hotel development pipeline finally responds to record occupancies

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The home specialty storage retailer Howards Storage World has appointed Deloitte as voluntary administrators, with the view of selling the popular business.
With the company pledging to keep trading, the business has 59 stores across Australia, 29 of which are in the hands of Deloitte partners Vaughan Strawbridge and David Lombe.
The company has a loyalty program with 600,000 members.
The Australian reported company’s 2012 accounts were the last filed with the corporate regulator ASIC showing a then breach of foreign funds financial covenants though making a $396,401 profit. There was $39 million annual revenue.
The company started as Stack and Store in Northbridge in the early 1970s.
It moved into franchising in the late 1990s.
The Australian Financial Review advised its co-founders were Leslie and Edda Howard who formed a partnership with Dirk Spence in 1997.
According to documents filed with the corporate regulator Dirk Spence and Pauline Donald are directors.
Leslie Howard stepped down as a director in September.
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