Revised Grand Prix date is good news for accom sector
But can providers hold out until November?
Victoria’s tourism accommodation body has welcomed the recent announcement by Victoria’s tourism minister, Martin Pakula that the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix will be postponed, to instead be staged on Sunday November 21, 2021 at Melbourne’s renowned Albert Park street circuit.
Tourism Accommodation Australia (Victoria) general manager Dougal Hollis is optimistic about the possibilities that the change in schedule presents, with larger COVID safe crowds now a very real possibility.
He said, “The delivery of world class major events is ingrained in Victoria’s DNA. The revised timing perfectly positions the grand prix event between the completion of Melbourne’s popular Spring Carnival and start of the Australian International Airshow and Queenscliff Music Festival.
“The Airshow and Festival will also provide a timely boost for regional tourism and give motor racing fans a plethora of reasons to stay longer and explore our state.”
While Hollis also notes the current window of opportunity that exists for major events to be used as a catalyst to encourage Australians to travel within their country, rather than overseas.
He said: “Australians spent around $65b travelling overseas in 2019. As COVID-related domestic border restrictions continue to be progressively eased, major events will play an important role to refocus this spend on domestic travel and offset shortfalls in spend by absent international travellers.
“It’s likely demand for accommodation will be strong too given race fans, starved of live action over the past year, will respond favourably when tickets go on sale.”
Australian Hotels Association (Victoria) State President, David Canny reiterates that “the importance of major events to Victoria’s visitor economy can’t be underestimated. These visitors consistently stay longer and spend more than leisure travellers, while the grand prix event broadcast projects Victoria and ‘brand Melbourne’ into millions of lounge rooms of key potential inbound travellers, living across China, India, Japan and Europe.”
Canny adds: “The Australian Grand Prix Corporation have led the way with a number of safety initiatives over the years, including world-leading driver safety protocols. We have no doubt they will leverage this experience and utilise the additional time they now have available to refine COVID-related safety protocols to deliver another unrivalled event.”
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