PRESIDENT UPDATE
A year that has started loud – and that’s exactly how we like it If there was any doubt about how 2026 was going to shape up for Tasmania’s hospitality sector, January answered it quickly and at full volume. The year kicked off with a bang in the north, led by the Foo Fighters concert in Launceston. I was lucky enough to attend, and the energy around the city was impossible to miss. Accommodation was fully booked across the region, pubs and restaurants were packed both before and after the show, and there was a genuine buzz that carried well beyond the concert itself. The economic benefit for Northern Tasmania was, quite simply, off the charts. Events like this don’t just fill rooms for a night or two, they create momentum. They bring visitors into our cities, encourage longer stays, and remind both locals and interstate travellers just how capable Tasmania is of hosting world-class experiences. Launceston showed that in spades, and it only built further with a fully booked Festivale returning and then Party in the Paddock rounding out a trifecta of non-stop weekend action in the north. Down south, Hobart matched the pace. The Hobart International broke attendance records, delivering strong mid-summer trade for accommodation providers, bars and eateries, and reinforcing the value of marquee events that sit comfortably within our shoulder periods. When major events align with great weather, compelling programming and a city ready to welcome visitors, the results speak for themselves. This strong start to 2026 also builds on what was a very solid year for the industry. Our recently released 2025 occupancy statistics confirmed Tasmania recorded its third-best yearly occupancy
rate on record. That performance didn’t happen by accident – it reflects sustained demand, effective event-driven visitation, and the tireless work of hospitality operators right across the state. All of this strengthens the case for continued investment in infrastructure that supports major events and concerts. The Macquarie Point development is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Tasmania. Purpose-built facilities in the south would allow us to attract more large- scale concerts, sporting fixtures and cultural events, creating year-round benefits for accommodation, food and beverage, transport and tourism operators statewide. What we’ve seen already this year is proof of concept. When Tasmania hosts big events, people come. They stay. They spend. And they leave with stories they want to tell. Of course, we know the well-documented challenges remain for our industry. Cost-of- living pressures continue to influence consumer behaviour, while operators are still grappling with ongoing increases in insurance, energy and essential operating costs that show little sign of easing. These pressures test margins, confidence and resilience, particularly for small and regional businesses. While strong visitation and major events provide welcome relief, they do not offset every challenge on their own, reinforcing the need for continued government support, policy certainty and investment in infrastructure and initiatives that genuinely back hospitality businesses for the long term. But if 2026 has taught us anything in its opening weeks it’s this: when we back events and invest with confidence, Tasmania doesn’t whisper. It roars.
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Tasmanian Hospitality Review February/March Edition
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