Hamilton Island reports "best year ever"

Hamilton Island reports "best year ever"
By admin


Hamilton Island has reported its “best year ever” on all commercial fronts with its chief executive confident the market for a close-to-home island holiday will remain strong despite growing overseas competition.

Glenn Bourke told Travel Today that occupancies and revenues at the island resort are soaring.

“Some of that is post-GFC euphoria,” he said. “Many of the guests had been waiting to take their holidays, saving up, tightening their belts over the years and decided that this year was the year.”

Although he recognised strong competition from destinations such as Bali, Fiji and Thailand, Bourke insisted Hamilton’s is a “different offer to some degree” perfectly suited to the time-poor more concerned with finding a quick room than a low room rate.

“Other things in our favour are expedience, currency and safety as opposed to places where you see military juntas or incendiary behaviour,” he said.

The timing of the rebound has worked out well for Hamilton Island, Bourke explained, with a considerable amount of construction undertaken during the quieter GFC period on projects including boutique luxury resort Qualia and the Yacht Club.

“So when the surge started to come, we were able to accommodate it and benefit from it,” he said.

But he admitted that high occupancies bring with them a whole different array of concerns, particularly ensuring the guest experience does not suffer in busy times. However, he highlighted improving TripAdvisor feedback as a sign that the resort has found the right balance.

Creating additional capacity is also on the longer term agenda for the island, with the old Palm Terrace hotel to be converted from staff digs back to guest accommodation over the coming years, with a hotel project on Dent Island to follow.

Meanwhile, the island is committed to working with its Whitsunday neighbours to drive tourism to the area, rather than seeing them as competitors, according to Bourke.

In fact, he stressed that it had been collaboration of the Whitsundays Islands that had contributed to Qantas’ decision to reinstate services from Sydney to Hamilton Island earlier this month, with the new service expected to deliver a considerable boost to tourism.

“It brings competition in the marketplace and keeps fares at a reasonable level, he said, adding that the Qantas brand is well aligned with the destination's offer of quality accommodation.

However, he highlighted the closure of Lindeman Island as a challenge, impacting passenger volumes through the airport.

“We need that volume through the airport to keep the airlines stimulated and engaged.”

Latest News

  • Cruise

Aurora Expeditions announces savings for solo travellers

Aurora Expeditions has today announced savings for solo travellers thinking of going north for the summer. Adventurous solo travellers can take advantage of no solo supplements, enjoying a guaranteed private cabin on select departures during Aurora’s Arctic 2024 season with plenty of options available on unforgettable voyages visiting Greenland, Svalbard, Northwest Passage, Iceland and more. […]

  • Aviation
  • Destinations

Etihad and Tourism officials launch free Abu Dhabi Stopover

Etihad Airways and the UAE’s Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi have announced the launch of Abu Dhabi Stopover which invites guests flying through to turn their stopover into a free hotel stay and holiday. The Abu Dhabi Stopover, exclusive to Etihad Airways, will enable passengers to enjoy a convenient free stay in […]

  • Destinations

Tropical North Queensland action-packed events calendar for adventure enthusiasts

Sporting enthusiasts and adventure seekers are gearing up for an action-packed year in Tropical North Queensland, with a lineup of sports events and adrenaline-pumping experiences set to take centre stage in 2024. Leading the charge is the highly-anticipated return of the Crankworx World Tour ‘Paradise Edition’ to Cairns from 22-26 May 2024. The mountain biking […]

  • Travel Agents

Disney Days returns with Inside Out 2 showing in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland

Time is running out for agents to register their Expression of Interest to an exclusive screening of the much-anticipated Disney and Pixar film, Inside Out 2, hosted by Disney Destinations Australia/New Zealand team and partner United Airlines. Places are limited and applications must be in by 17 May. In addition to the screening of the […]

  • Cruise

Aranui Cruises slashes prices with No Single Supplement and Half Price offers

French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is slashing thousands off its 2025 Austral and Marquesas Islands cruises with an autumn sale offering 50 per cent off the second guest in a twin share room and no single supplement for solo travellers. On sale until June 21, 2024, Aranui’s 12-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to […]

  • Destinations

Raes on Wategos celebrates 30th birthday and guests get the presents

World famous luxury boutique hotel Raes on Wategos, in Byron Bay, has launched its 30th birthday celebrations with a Raes Indulgent Escape package. Available for all stays of two nights or more, from June to August, the curated package offers an invitation to indulge in a shared celebration of Raes 30th birthday, whilst revelling in […]