Warriors fans back their team early as Sydney hotel bookings surge

Could this finally be their year? Warriors fans are booking early for NRL Grand Final weekend, with New Zealand’s share of reservations across SiteMinder-connected Sydney hotels approaching three times last year’s level.

New Zealand Warriors fans are daring to dream, and Sydney hoteliers are already seeing the signs.

It has been 15 years since the Warriors last made an NRL Grand Final and, despite the club never lifting the premiership trophy, supporters appear increasingly confident that 2026 could be their year.

New booking data from hotel commerce platform SiteMinder shows New Zealand travellers have significantly increased their share of reservations at Sydney hotels using its platform for the nights of Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4.

Across central Sydney, New Zealand guests account for 6.9 percent of bookings included in SiteMinder’s data, up from 2.6 percent over the corresponding weekend last year.

Along the Sydney Olympic Park corridor, the New Zealand share has risen from 2.4 percent to 7.1 percent.

It means the Kiwi share has almost tripled in central Sydney and come close to tripling around Olympic Park.

And it seems accommodation is not the only thing Warriors supporters have been securing early.

NRL figures released in August showed Warriors fans accounted for 24 percent of Grand Final tickets sold at that stage, well ahead of Penrith supporters on 13 percent and Brisbane fans on 10 percent.

The Warriors have reached the NRL Grand Final twice before. They lost to the Sydney Roosters in 2002 and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in 2011.

Now, after finishing second on the 2026 ladder and securing a home qualifying final, belief is building that a third appearance could be within reach.

Of course, booking a room before your team has qualified is a gamble. But for loyal Warriors fans, perhaps optimism is all part of the experience.

Grand Final demand pushes rates higher

The 2026 NRL and NRLW Grand Finals will be played at Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday, October 4. The event is expected to attract tens of thousands of supporters to the precinct.

SiteMinder’s data suggests event-driven pricing is already in full swing.

The average booked room rate among the central Sydney properties in its dataset has increased 18 percent year on year to $487. Along the Olympic Park corridor, the average booked rate has risen 22 percent to $748.

SiteMinder Regional Vice President Asia Pacific Bradley Haines said travellers were increasingly prepared to plan well ahead for major sporting and entertainment events.

“As a Kiwi, I can completely understand why so many Warriors fans are getting excited about the upcoming NRL Grand Final,” Mr Haines said.

“While some people might think booking flights and accommodation this far in advance is wild, our data continues to show that travellers are planning far in advance for major events, from sports to music concerts and everything in between.

“Hoteliers have an opportunity to put resources and plans in place now for the upcoming peak in demand. Those with the most real-time data at their fingertips, and the ability to act on it quickly, will be best positioned to capitalise on the moment, wherever their guests are arriving from.”

Why event-driven tourism matters

Major sporting events do much more than fill stadium seats. They encourage visitors to travel, stay overnight and spend money throughout the destination.

According to Destination NSW, the state welcomed 2.8 million event visitors in the year ending December 2023. Together, they stayed 6.9 million nights and spent more than $3.3 billion during their trips.

Event visitors also spent more than three times as much as the average visitor to NSW, highlighting the value of securing major sporting, cultural and business events. Destination NSW

For accommodation operators, these events can deliver stronger occupancy and room rates, as well as opportunities to extend stays and generate additional revenue through food, beverage, parking and tailored packages.

They also provide a reminder of the importance of monitoring booking patterns early. Supporters may begin making travel plans weeks or even months before the final participants are known.

The Warriors still have finals football to navigate before any Grand Final dreams can become reality. But one thing is already clear: if they make it to Sydney, plenty of Kiwi supporters intend to be there waiting for them.

SiteMinder’s booking data was collected on September 4, 2026, and compares reservations for October 3 and 4, 2026, with the corresponding weekend in 2025.

SiteMinder is a Gold Sponsor of NoVacancy 2026, on September 23 and 24 at ICC Sydney.

Regional Vice President, Bradley Haines and CEO, Sankar Narayan will be presenting on Day two.

Visit the SiteMinder team at Stand 1046

Visit the AccomNews team at stand 708.

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