The recent announcement that Adelaide will host the Australian Football League’s (AFL) Gather Round and LIV Golf in April 2023 has resulted in a boost in the market’s hotel occupancy on the books, according to STR’s Forward STAR data. The AFL Gather Round will take place Thursday, 13 April through Sunday, 16 April; while LIV Golf will take place Friday, 21 April through Sunday, 23 April.“We have seen a noticeable spike in Adelaide’s hotel occupancy on the books since the confirmation that the market would host these two major sporting events,” said Matthew Burke, STR’s regional director for Pacific. “As of 5 December, Adelaide’s occupancy on the books is 23% for the month of April – a positive level considering the lead time is about four months, when in comparison, two months from now the metric is at the same level. With more bookings to come from fans of both sports, Adelaide is set for a massive April.” As of 5 December, Adelaide’s highest occupancy on the books is during the Gather Round on 14 and 15 April, at 40% and 43%, respectively. STR anticipates the Gather Round to be a high-performing weekend, as the National Rugby League’s Magic Round, which Brisbane hosts each year in May, has shown substantial performance in year’s past. The next highest levels in the metric are seen during LIV Golf on 21 and 22 April, at 37% and 39%, respectively.
