Suburban pubs are being called on to help fill a critical shortage of hotel rooms in Brisbane ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Schrinner Council’s Suburban Pub Stays Strategy will encourage suburban pub owners and operators to step up and deliver new accommodation and function spaces on large, underutilised sites in the suburbs.
As part of the Strategy, planning changes will be considered to make it easier for pub owners and operators to build hotel rooms and conference facilities.
According to a recent Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) report, south east Queensland currently has 46,000 hotel rooms – less than half of Los Angeles (120,000) and Paris (133,000).
Around 70 Brisbane pubs are located on sites of 2000 square metres or more, however, just 15 currently support accommodation.
Redeveloping just 20 suburban pubs could add more than 1,600 new rooms to Brisbane’s hotel supply, supporting local jobs and businesses.
Recent suburban pub redevelopments, including The Brook Hotel, have demonstrated strong demand for more accommodation and lifestyle opportunities in the suburbs.
The Property Council recently highlighted reduced demand during COVID-19 and a 40 per cent increase in hotel room construction costs had contributed to the shortage, with hotel construction in Brisbane falling by 90 per cent between 2019 and 2024.
Smaller-scale projects can be delivered more affordably and faster than larger, inner-city projects with construction of The Brook completed in just over one year at a cost of around $25 million.
More than 9 million people visited Brisbane in 2024, spending $13.7 billion across south-east Queensland.
In 2023-24, Brisbane recorded over triple the domestic visitor growth compared to the next best Australian capital city, with hotels earning 58 per cent more per room than they did before COVID-19.
The Suburban Pub Stays Strategy will strike the right balance between encouraging hotel rooms in appropriate areas while ensuring suburban homes are available on the long-term rental market.
Pub operators, industry and residents are encouraged to share their feedback before 28 February 2026 by searching Suburban Pub Stays Strategy via www.brisbane.qld.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner:
“We’re going back to the future to help address Brisbane’s hotel room shortage.
“There was a time when suburban pubs across Brisbane had rooms upstairs and we want to bring that back.
“It’s a simple idea that will help provide more places for families and friends to stay, right near the people they love.
“It will provide more reasons for people to get out and enjoy their own suburb, and deliver more local jobs.
“Our Suburban Pub Stays Strategy will help strike the right balance by encouraging more accommodation in the right places while ensuring houses are available on the long-term rental market.
“Importantly, it’s about creating a lasting legacy for Brisbane that will benefit our city long after the 2032 Games are over.”
Quotes attributable to Ross Elliott, Suburban Futures:
“Suburban Futures is delighted that the Schrinner Council have responded so positively to our proposal, which came about because it was clear that building enough large 5 star hotels in the inner city was obviously a massive challenge.
“This shows how the suburbs can often offer the solution to a problem – if we think through the many opportunities.
“Many suburban pubs have not changed in many years, yet they can occupy large sites capable of providing more local accommodation and function spaces, and can meet some of the Olympics accommodation challenge in the process.
“Many are also well located in or near commercial areas and transport – because they have been there since the early days of Brisbane’s growth.
“But this is not just an Olympics opportunity – it is a genuine long term legacy opportunity to provide better local facilities in the suburbs where most of us live and work.
“Visiting friends and relatives have few suburban stay options, and local businesses can have few options for contemporary meeting spaces. Family celebrations are also often faced with limited choices.
“The other benefit of this initiative is that it can be delivered by Tier 3 builders – a market which is less constrained compared with larger builders who are very busy with major projects.”
Quotes attributable to Jess Caire, Executive Director, Property Council:
“With Brisbane’s major events calendar growing and increased flight paths, the need for hotel investment has never been more urgent.
“Our research shows a 90 per cent drop in new hotel rooms over the past five years, a staggering drop but reflective of the market challenges.
“If we want to capitalise on the increased tourism spend our economy is seeing, continue to address project feasibility must be front and centre. Every lever, from planning reform to tax incentives needs to be examined to unlock investment and accelerate delivery.
“The Suburban Pub Stays Strategy is one such lever and is a great example of how local government can partner with the private sector to deliver the hotel rooms Brisbane needs
Quotes attributable to Bernie Hogan, CEO, Queensland Hotels Association:
“Hotels provide important social infrastructure right across Queensland, so ensuring those businesses that want to expand and re-invest in Brisbane can do it easily makes perfect sense.
“Planning regulation plays such a vital role in ensuring that all suburbs of Brisbane are great places to live for locals, but with targeted initiatives like this, can also provide for the guests to our city to stay close to where they need to be.
“Whether it is for regular work travel, visiting friends or attending an event – pubs are conveniently placed across our city and we look forward to seeing these city assets add more opportunity and jobs in the hospitality sector.”
Quotes attributable to Natassia Wheeler, CEO of Queensland Tourism Industry Council:
“Brisbane’s accommodation shortfall is one of the most pressing constraints on our visitor economy, and we welcome initiatives that unlock new, practical pathways to grow supply.
“For several years, QTIC has highlighted the need for diversified accommodation models and smarter planning levers to support sustainable growth ahead of 2032 and beyond.
“The Suburban Pub Stays Strategy is a constructive step in that direction.
“It creates opportunities for suburban operators to invest with confidence, revitalise underutilised sites and deliver the rooms our city urgently needs.”
Quotes attributable to Brian and Cathy Fitzgibbons, The Glen Hotel:
“The Glen has been in our family for over 65 years, and we’re still just as excited about what’s next.
“By the time Brisbane hosts the 2032 Games, The Glen will be nearing 170 years of operation and you don’t reach that milestone without evolving with your city.
“Our commitment has and always will be to our local community and delivering the best hospitality experience on Brisbane’s southside.
“This is a legacy The Glen Hotel has proudly held for over a century, and we plan on continuing it for generations to come.
“Our $30 million-plus redevelopment, delivering more than 100 five-star hotel rooms and new function spaces, is a long-term investment in local jobs, tourism and Brisbane’s future.
“Council’s support and the Suburban Pub Stays Strategy give operators like us the confidence to dream bigger and act sooner.
“That partnership makes a real difference in helping suburban pubs contribute meaningfully to the city’s growth.”
