Schoolies celebrations surge but staff sickies hit Queensland hotels hard
Schoolies fills rooms fast, but new data reveals Queensland accommodation operators paid another price this season, with staff absenteeism in hotels surging more than 115 percent in just one week.
Schoolies has always been a double-edged sword for Queensland’s accommodation sector. On one hand, it delivers a welcome tidal wave of bookings, late nights and coastal buzz. On the other, it brings one of the most demanding operational periods of the year.
And this December, a fresh challenge emerged. A sharp spike in staff absenteeism.
New data from workforce platform Deputy shows accommodation businesses were the hardest hit across the state during week one of Schoolies, recording a staggering 115 percent jump in absenteeism compared to the previous week.
Read about Silver Schoolies 2023 in AccomNews HERE
While thousands of school leavers filled Surfers Paradise and other coastal hot spots to celebrate the end of exams, many of the workers relied on to keep rooms turning over, kitchens firing and check-ins moving were unexpectedly calling in sick.
The impact rippled quickly through venues already running at full throttle, triggering emergency re-rostering, longer queues and added pressure on frontline teams.
Deputy Chief Financial Officer Emma Seymour said the data highlights just how quickly workforce volatility can disrupt operations during major event periods.
“Accommodation businesses were hit the hardest, with absenteeism more than doubling,” Seymour said. “Pubs and bars saw a 71 percent increase, cafes jumped 50 percent and fast-food venues rose 29 percent. Every unexpected no-show forces operators into reactive mode at the very moment demand is at its peak.”
She said shift workers are the unsung backbone of the Schoolies economy, managing room turnovers, serving food and drinks, handling crowds and keeping venues moving during one of the highest-pressure weeks on the tourism calendar.
“When those workers call in sick, the impact is immediate and felt across the entire operation,” she said.
The mid-Schoolies period has long been seen as the most volatile week for operators, where fatigue, long shifts, crowd intensity and Australia’s familiar “sickie” culture converge. This year’s data reinforces just how costly that convergence can be.
With Schoolies wrapping up, operators will have only a short window to reset before the Christmas and summer holiday rush rolls in, delivering the next wave of demand to Queensland’s already stretched accommodation sector.
