Hilton Hotel’s Australasian vice-president Ashley Spencer said the Gold Coast could cope with the accommodation needs of an expected 120,000 visitors for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
But what the glitter strip really needs is quality establishments to lure visitors back to the Gold Coast and Australia after the games.
“There’s no doubt there’s enough beds here, I’m just not sure they’re of sufficient quality,” he said. “You wouldn’t want a situation on the Gold Coast like Sydney, where thousands of beds were put in before the 2000 Olympics, and then left empty at the end – only now are they are beginning to be soaked up.”
He said thousands of strata title apartments on the Gold Coast needed upgrading but investors may be reluctant to spend money if returns are not solid.
Mr Spencer said although the Gold Coast was predominantly a leisure destination, the city accounted for half of Queensland’s business travel expenditure.
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