While 142,300 Queenslanders served up smiles last year, powering a $12.4 billion industry, a deep dive into the state's hospitality sector reveals a story of remarkable resilience, persistent challenges, and an exciting future brewing beyond the espresso machine.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Queensland's hospitality industry employed 142,300 people, representing 5.2% of total state employment
- The accommodation and food services sector in Queensland saw a 4.8% increase in employment from 2021 to 2022, adding 6,500 jobs
- Full-time hospitality workers in Queensland averaged 38.2 hours per week in 2023, higher than the national average of 37.1 hours
- Queensland hospitality contributed $12.4 billion to state GDP in 2022
- Food services revenue in Queensland reached $8.7 billion in 2023
- Accommodation sector turnover: $4.2 billion in QLD 2022
- Queensland had 12,450 cafes and restaurants operating in 2022
- Pubs, taverns, and bars numbered 4,200 in Queensland 2023
- Hotels with accommodation: 1,850 licensed in QLD 2022
- Queensland hospitality attracted 15.2 million domestic visitors in 2023
- International tourists spending nights in QLD hospitality: 12.4 million in 2023
- Average length of stay in Queensland accommodation: 3.8 nights in 2022
- Queensland hospitality projected to grow 3.8% annually to 2028
- Labour shortages expected to persist, affecting 25% of QLD venues in 2024
- Sustainability adoption: 45% of businesses implementing zero-waste by 2025
Queensland's hospitality industry is growing but faces persistent staffing and cost challenges.
Consumer and Visitor Data
- Queensland hospitality attracted 15.2 million domestic visitors in 2023
- International tourists spending nights in QLD hospitality: 12.4 million in 2023
- Average length of stay in Queensland accommodation: 3.8 nights in 2022
- Occupancy rate for QLD hotels: 68.4% in 2023
- Restaurant visits per capita: 52 annually for QLD residents 2022
- 72% of Queensland visitors dined out at least once per trip in 2023
- Pub attendance: 4.1 million visits monthly across QLD 2022
- Family groups: 38% of hospitality consumers in Queensland 2023
- Repeat visitors to Gold Coast hospitality: 62% in 2022
- Average spend per visitor on food/bev: $156 in QLD 2023
- Weekend occupancy peak: 82% in QLD holiday parks 2022
- Couples travelling: 45% market share in QLD resorts 2023
- Business travellers: 22% of QLD accommodation guests 2022
- Vegan/vegetarian diners: 14% of QLD restaurant patrons 2023
- Online bookings: 55% of QLD hospitality reservations in 2022
- Peak season (Dec-Feb) visitor surge: 40% above average in QLD 2023
- Interstate visitors: 9.8 million to QLD hospitality 2022
- Adventure tourists dining out: 78% participation rate in 2023 QLD
- Loyalty program members: 2.3 million in QLD hospitality apps 2022
- Average party size in restaurants: 3.2 persons in Queensland 2023
- Solo travellers: 12% of QLD motel guests 2022
- Event attendees spending on hospitality: $450 million at Brisbane festivals 2023
- Cruise passenger visits: 850,000 with hospitality spend in QLD ports 2022
- Grey nomads (over 55s): 28% of caravan park stays in QLD 2023
- Social media influenced visits: 41% of young QLD consumers 2022
- Delivery orders: 18 million annually via apps in Queensland 2023
- Sustainability-focused consumers: 35% prefer green QLD venues 2022
- Post-pandemic revenge spending: 25% higher bills in QLD 2023
- Digital wallet payments: 68% of transactions in QLD hospitality 2022
Consumer and Visitor Data Interpretation
Queensland's hospitality scene is clearly a masterclass in seduction, where sunburnt grey nomads clinking glasses with digital wallet-wielding, festival-going adventure tourists proves that whether you're here for three point eight nights or just a parmy at the pub, you're statistically almost guaranteed to leave both satisfied and slightly poorer.
Employment Statistics
- In 2022, Queensland's hospitality industry employed 142,300 people, representing 5.2% of total state employment
- The accommodation and food services sector in Queensland saw a 4.8% increase in employment from 2021 to 2022, adding 6,500 jobs
- Full-time hospitality workers in Queensland averaged 38.2 hours per week in 2023, higher than the national average of 37.1 hours
- Female workers comprised 54.7% of Queensland's hospitality workforce in 2022
- Youth employment (15-24 years) in Queensland hospitality reached 28,400 in 2023, up 12% from pre-pandemic levels
- Average weekly earnings for hospitality managers in Queensland were $1,856 in 2022
- Casual workers made up 62.3% of Queensland hospitality employment in 2023
- The industry faced a 15% vacancy rate in hospitality roles across Queensland in mid-2023
- Over 12,000 apprentices and trainees were in hospitality training programs in Queensland as of 2022
- Indigenous employment in Queensland hospitality grew by 8.2% to 4,200 workers in 2022
- Migrant workers accounted for 22% of Queensland hospitality staff in 2023
- Turnover rate in Queensland hospitality was 41% annually in 2022
- Hospitality employment in regional Queensland increased by 7.1% to 45,600 in 2023
- Chefs and cooks numbered 28,700 in Queensland hospitality in 2022
- Waitstaff employment hit 35,200 across Queensland venues in 2023
- Bar attendants in Queensland totaled 12,400 full-time equivalents in 2022
- Hotel reception staff employment rose 9% to 8,900 in Queensland 2023
- Kitchen hands and assistants: 15,300 employed in QLD hospitality 2022
- Housekeepers in Queensland accommodation services: 9,200 in 2023
- Hospitality supervisors/managers: 18,500 in Queensland 2022
- Barbers/hairdressers crossover in hospitality: 2,100 employed 2023 QLD
- Training investment in hospitality workforce: $45 million in QLD 2022
- Labour productivity in QLD hospitality: $72,400 per worker in 2022
- Underemployment rate in hospitality: 18.2% in Queensland 2023
- Part-time employment share: 35.4% of QLD hospitality jobs 2022
- Wage growth in hospitality: 4.1% year-on-year in QLD 2023
- Disability employment in hospitality: 3.2% representation in QLD 2022
- Seasonal employment peak: 25% above average in QLD summer 2023
- Remote area hospitality jobs: 3,800 in Far North QLD 2022
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Despite Queensland's hospitality sector buzzing with 142,300 people, pouring heart, soul, and long hours into plates and pints, it's a paradox of growth and grit—a 41% churn and 15% vacancy rate revealing an industry running hot on passion yet desperately thirsty for stable staff.
Financial Performance
- Queensland hospitality contributed $12.4 billion to state GDP in 2022
- Food services revenue in Queensland reached $8.7 billion in 2023
- Accommodation sector turnover: $4.2 billion in QLD 2022
- Average revenue per hospitality business in Queensland: $1.2 million in 2022
- Pubs and clubs generated $3.1 billion in revenue in QLD 2023
- Cafes and restaurants profit margins averaged 6.8% in Queensland 2022
- Hospitality export-related revenue (international tourists): $2.9 billion in QLD 2023
- Average annual turnover growth: 5.2% for QLD hospitality 2018-2022
- Tax contributions from hospitality: $1.8 billion to QLD coffers in 2022
- Cost of goods sold for QLD restaurants: 32% of revenue in 2023
- Labour costs as % of revenue: 38.5% in Queensland hospitality 2022
- Rent expenses for hospitality venues: averaged $450,000 pa in Brisbane 2023
- Online delivery sales: 15% of total food service revenue in QLD 2023
- Profit per seat in QLD restaurants: $1,200 annually in 2022
- Hotel room revenue per available room (RevPAR): $145 in Queensland 2023
- Gaming revenue from QLD pubs: $1.2 billion in 2022
- Event catering revenue: $650 million in Queensland 2023
- Average check size in Brisbane restaurants: $42.50 in 2022
- Sustainability investments: $120 million by QLD hospitality in 2023
- Insurance costs rose 22% to $15,000 avg per venue in QLD 2022
- Energy costs: 8.5% of operating expenses in QLD hospitality 2023
- Credit card fees: 2.1% of revenue for QLD venues 2022
- Business failure rate: 4.2% in QLD hospitality 2023
- Investment in digital tech: $280 million across QLD hospitality 2022
- Brisbane CBD hospitality revenue: $2.1 billion in 2023
- Gold Coast venue turnover: $1.8 billion combined 2022
- Far North QLD hospitality revenue: $900 million in 2023
Financial Performance Interpretation
Despite pouring a staggering $12.4 billion into the state's economy, Queensland's hospitality industry runs on a precarious formula where every dollar earned is fiercely negotiated by a 38.5% labour cost, a 32% food cost, and the ever-watchful eyes of insurers and energy providers.
Industry Trends and Challenges
- Queensland hospitality projected to grow 3.8% annually to 2028
- Labour shortages expected to persist, affecting 25% of QLD venues in 2024
- Sustainability adoption: 45% of businesses implementing zero-waste by 2025
- Rise in plant-based menu items: 62% increase in QLD restaurants 2023
- Tech integration: 78% of venues using POS systems in Queensland 2024
- Alcohol consumption decline: 5% drop in QLD hospitality pours 2023
- Experiential dining growth: 30% of new venues focusing on events 2024
- Supply chain disruptions cost avg $25k per QLD venue in 2023
- Ghost kitchens projected to double to 400 in Queensland by 2025
- Wellness retreats: 15% annual growth in QLD hospitality 2023-2028
- Inflation impact: 12% cost rise for QLD hospitality in 2023
- Contactless everything: 92% preference among QLD consumers 2024
- Craft beverage surge: 22% sales growth in QLD bars 2023
- Mental health initiatives: 60% of venues offering staff support 2024
- EV charging stations at venues: 18% adoption in QLD 2023
- Pop-up events: 1,200 hosted in Queensland 2023, up 35%
- Allergy-aware menus: 75% compliance in QLD restaurants 2024
- Remote work nomads: 10% increase in long-stay bookings QLD 2023
- Plastic ban compliance challenges: 8% fines issued to QLD venues 2023
- AI menu optimisation: 12% of large QLD chains using in 2024
- Post-COVID hygiene standards: 95% venues exceeding pre-2020 levels 2023
- Local sourcing: 55% of ingredients from QLD suppliers in 2024 trend
- Gig economy staff: 20% of workforce via apps in QLD 2023
Industry Trends and Challenges Interpretation
Queensland's hospitality scene is galloping toward a greener, tech-savvy future at a promising 3.8% clip, yet it's a race where a quarter of the venues can't find enough jockeys, everyone is counting pennies harder than ever, and the finish line seems to be moving just as fast as they are.
Venue and Business Counts
- Queensland had 12,450 cafes and restaurants operating in 2022
- Pubs, taverns, and bars numbered 4,200 in Queensland 2023
- Hotels with accommodation: 1,850 licensed in QLD 2022
- Motels and guesthouses: 2,300 establishments in Queensland 2023
- Holiday apartments and parks: 1,120 businesses in QLD 2022
- Brisbane metropolitan area: 5,800 hospitality venues in 2023
- Gold Coast: 3,200 cafes, restaurants, bars in 2022
- New hospitality business entries: 1,250 in QLD 2023
- Closures: 850 hospitality businesses exited in Queensland 2022
- Micro-businesses (<5 employees): 78% of QLD hospitality in 2023
- Takeaway food outlets: 2,900 in Queensland 2022
- Function centres and reception venues: 650 in QLD 2023
- Brewpubs and microbreweries: 180 operational in Queensland 2022
- Licensed clubs: 620 in Queensland hospitality sector 2023
- Serviced apartments: 450 providers in QLD 2022
- Regional QLD non-metro venues: 6,500 total in 2023
- Food trucks and mobile vendors: 420 licensed in Queensland 2022
- Wineries with cellar doors: 95 in QLD hospitality tourism 2023
- Beachfront venues on Gold Coast: 280 in 2022
- CBD bars in Brisbane: 450 licensed in 2023
- Campground and caravan parks: 280 major sites in QLD 2022
- Resort properties: 320 luxury resorts across Queensland 2023
- Independent vs chain venues: 65% independents in QLD 2022
- Multi-outlet operators: 120 chains with 5+ sites in Queensland 2023
- Eco-certified hospitality venues: 210 in QLD 2022
- Historic pubs listed: 75 heritage venues operating in Queensland 2023
Venue and Business Counts Interpretation
Queensland’s hospitality industry is a sprawling, spirited, and perilously fragile ecosystem, where nearly 22,000 venues—from heritage pubs to beachfront bars—are predominantly run by micro-businesses, a reality that makes every new opening a triumph of hope and every closure a sobering reminder of the razor-thin margins they navigate.
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