Developments

Accommodation bodies have praised this week's NSW budget for tackling skills shortages and stimulating employment across the $32.5 billion state tourism industry.

Irate Port Douglas accom owners frustrated by OTA commissions have set up their own tourism collective to create a more powerful voice to challenge the booking giants.

A spectacular addition to the Victorian landscape is taking shape on the Mornington Peninsula.

Ferry operator SeaLink has taken the helm of two major resorts on Queensland's world-famous Fraser Island.

Named after the Latin word for ‘come together’, the Voco brand aims to combine the informality and charm of an individual hotel with the quality and reassurance of a globally respected brand.

Its two tyres and large tipped-over-cylinder design mean it has zero turning radius. As co-founder Jeffrey Schnapp boasts: "It can do little ballerina pirouettes."

“Australia is consistently recognised as being home to clean and green produce, a beautiful environment, and an unsurpassed quality of life," says our tourism minister.

"This stinks - and that’s an understatement," Airbnb said in a statement, adding it would fully refund cancelled reservations and was also creating a $10 million fund to compensate affected travellers.

Designed by Nic Graham & Associates, the firm behind QT in Sydney, W Brisbane is all about colour.

Accor will use its new market dominance to drive regional tourism and take on Airbnb.