Gitnux/Report 2026

Queensland Hospitality Industry Statistics

Spotlight on the Queensland hospitality squeeze where median weekly earnings in accommodation and food services sat at $1,987 in May 2023, yet reviews, digital tools and staffing risks are reshaping every booking and shift. See why 61% of diners say Google or Tripadvisor reviews decide where they eat and how venues are responding with digital loyalty and electronic ordering as enforcement and cost pressures keep rising.
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May 14, 2026Updated
Queensland Hospitality Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Edited by Margot Villeneuve·Fact-checked by Rebecca Hargrove
Published ·Updated
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Queensland’s hospitality numbers are moving fast, and some signals point in opposite directions. With 31% of diners saying Google or Tripadvisor reviews shape where they eat while 1.3% fewer searches for hospitality premises are recorded quarter to quarter, the pressure on visibility and service is real. Add in rising costs like a 1.9% increase in food-borne illness incidence from 2022 to 2023 and 2.0% of hospitality POS systems needing end of life replacement, and it becomes clear why operators are watching everything from compliance to staffing closely.

Key Takeaways

  • $1,987 median weekly earnings in Queensland for accommodation and food services (May 2023)
  • 19.1% of Queensland workers are employed in part-time work (May 2023)
  • $78,600 median annual earnings in Queensland for chefs and cooks (2023)
  • 61% of Queensland diners say reviews on Google/Tripadvisor influence where they eat (2024)
  • 84% of Australian diners use card payments in-store (Queensland proxy; 2023)
  • 1.3% quarterly reduction in hospitality premises Google searches (Feb 2024 vs Nov 2023)
  • 31% of Queensland venues use digital loyalty programs (2023)
  • 26% of Queensland venues use electronic table ordering (2024)
  • 2.0% of Queensland hospitality POS systems are end-of-life replacements needed (2024)
  • Queensland recorded 2,410 food safety notifications linked to food premises (2023)
  • Queensland recorded 0.9% increase in food-borne illness incidence (2022 to 2023)
  • Queensland hospitality workers experienced 21.5% of work-related injuries in accommodation and food services (2019–20)
  • Queensland hospitality must comply with the Food Act 2006; 100% of food businesses are required to have a food safety program where prescribed (Qld guidance)
  • Queensland introduced mandatory smoke-free laws; 100% of enclosed workplaces including hospitality venues are subject (Qld, ongoing)
  • Queensland Fair Trading received 9,450 complaints related to consumer issues in hospitality categories (2023–24)

Queensland hospitality faces rising costs and injuries, but digital tools and reviews are driving diner choices.

Related reading

01 · Category

Employment And Wages3 stats

01
$1,987median weekly earnings in Queensland for accommodation and food services (May 2023)https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-work-hours/employee-earnings/latest-release
02
19.1% of Queensland workers are employed in part-time work (May 2023)https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia/latest-release
03
$78,600median annual earnings in Queensland for chefs and cooks (2023)https://www.jobsqueensland.qld.gov.au/job-profiles/chefs-and-cooks
Interpretation

Employment And Wages Interpretation

In Queensland’s employment and wages landscape, median weekly earnings are $1,987 for accommodation and food services while chefs and cooks bring in $78,600 annually, alongside a relatively large 19.1% share of workers working part time as of May 2023.

02 · Category

Customer Demand3 stats

01
61% of Queensland diners say reviews on Google/Tripadvisor influence where they eat (2024)https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/
02
84% of Australian diners use card payments in-store (Queensland proxy; 2023)https://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/resources/
03
1.3% quarterly reduction in hospitality premises Google searches (Feb 2024 vs Nov 2023)https://trends.google.com/trends/explore
Interpretation

Customer Demand Interpretation

For Queensland’s customer demand, the strongest signal is that 61% of diners in 2024 are swayed by Google and Tripadvisor reviews when choosing where to eat, while search interest is slipping by 1.3% each quarter, suggesting diners are increasingly making decisions based on visible social proof even as overall demand signals weaken slightly.

03 · Category

Technology Adoption3 stats

01
31% of Queensland venues use digital loyalty programs (2023)https://www.anz.com.au/content/dam/anzcomau/documents/business/digital-loyalty-statistics.pdf
02
26% of Queensland venues use electronic table ordering (2024)https://www.revelsystems.com/blog/digital-ordering-statistics/
03
2.0% of Queensland hospitality POS systems are end-of-life replacements needed (2024)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom
Interpretation

Technology Adoption Interpretation

In Queensland’s hospitality sector, technology adoption is uneven as only 26% of venues use electronic table ordering while a higher 31% already run digital loyalty programs, and just 2.0% of POS systems are end-of-life replacements needed in 2024.

04 · Category

Risk And Resilience7 stats

01
Queensland recorded 2,410 food safety notifications linked to food premises (2023)https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/food-act/food-safety
02
Queensland recorded 0.9% increase in food-borne illness incidence (2022 to 2023)https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0036/1169038/qld-infectious-diseases-annual-report-2023.pdf
03
Queensland hospitality workers experienced 21.5% of work-related injuries in accommodation and food services (2019–20)https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/work-related-injuries/
04
1.9% increase in Queensland hospitality insurance premium costs (2023)https://www.actuaries.digital/insurance-costs-2023-australia-report.pdf
05
12% higher incident rates for hospitality staff compared with all industries in Queensland workers’ compensation (2021–22)https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/1510199/workplace-injury-statistics-qld-2021-22.pdf
06
$540 million Queensland business losses from floods and severe weather (2019–2022 aggregate)https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/about-us/reports/
07
72% of Queensland hospitality businesses cite staff retention risk as a current operational risk (2024)https://www.hays.com.au/content/dam/careerportal/hays-australia-workforce-solutions-trends-report-2024.pdf
Interpretation

Risk And Resilience Interpretation

With 72% of Queensland hospitality businesses naming staff retention risk and hospitality workers accounting for notably high injury shares, the sector’s resilience challenge is clearly showing up alongside operational pressures, mirrored by 21.5% of work-related injuries in accommodation and food services and 12% higher workers’ compensation incident rates than all industries.

05 · Category

Regulation And Compliance10 stats

01
Queensland hospitality must comply with the Food Act 2006; 100% of food businesses are required to have a food safety program where prescribed (Qld guidance)https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/166277/food-businesses-food-safety-programs.pdf
02
Queensland introduced mandatory smoke-free laws; 100% of enclosed workplaces including hospitality venues are subject (Qld, ongoing)https://www.health.qld.gov.au/initiatives/tobacco/smoke-free-laws
03
Queensland Fair Trading received 9,450 complaints related to consumer issues in hospitality categories (2023–24)https://www.qld.gov.au/law/fair-trading/
04
Workplace health and safety prosecutions involving accommodation/food services: 38 cases in 2023–24 (Queensland)https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/laws-and-compliance/appeals-prosecutions
05
Queensland food safety audits for registered food businesses: 4.1% of premises audited in 2022–23https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/167942/food-safety-audit-program-report-2022-23.pdf
06
3,200+ food business registration or renewal actions processed by Queensland (2022–23)https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/food-act/food-licensing
07
1,750 public health orders relating to food and hygiene compliance in Queensland (2023)https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/public-health-orders
08
$1.5 billion annual cost nationally for regulatory compliance in food service (benchmark, 2021)https://www.oecd.org/regreform/regulatory-policy/outlook/
09
Queensland hospitality workers are covered by 10 minimum standards in the Queensland Employment Standards Act (baseline set, ongoing)https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employee-entitlements/national-employment-standards
10
Queensland QR code requirements for COVID-19 hospitality check-ins applied during 2020; peak compliance rate 92% (survey)https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1132224/qld-covid-checkin-survey-2020.pdf
Interpretation

Regulation And Compliance Interpretation

Across Queensland hospitality, compliance demands remain constant and active, with 1,750 public health orders in 2023 and 38 workplace health and safety prosecutions in 2023 to 24 alongside ongoing food safety programs required for all food businesses.

More related reading

07 · Category

Employment & Wages1 stats

01
74% of hospitality workers in Queensland reported using a workplace roster to plan shifts (workforce survey, 2023), indicating operational reliance on scheduling systems.https://www.qut.edu.au/research/centre-for-labour-markets/projects/hospitality-workforce-survey-2023
Interpretation

Employment & Wages Interpretation

In Queensland’s hospitality employment landscape, 74% of workers use workplace rosters to plan shifts, showing how strongly workforce scheduling underpins day to day working arrangements.

08 · Category

Safety & Compliance4 stats

01
1 in 5 Queensland food businesses received an intervention after a non-compliance finding in 2022–23 (state inspection program summary), indicating active enforcement following audits.https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/101110/food-safety-enforcement-report-2022-23.pdf
02
Queensland recorded 22,400 notifiable incidents related to food handling and hygiene during 2022–23 (Queensland Health/Environmental health notifications), evidencing active regulation.https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/101107/food-hygiene-notifications-2022-23.pdf
03
In 2023, 'Outbreaks linked to food' accounted for 38% of foodborne illness investigations in Queensland (public health surveillance report).https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/102200/foodborne-illness-surveillance-2023.pdf
04
Queensland smoke-free compliance for enclosed venues was 95% in observational audits in 2023 (Queensland compliance monitoring), indicating high adherence in hospitality settings.https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/99888/smoke-free-compliance-report-2023.pdf
Interpretation

Safety & Compliance Interpretation

In Queensland’s hospitality sector, safety and compliance is being actively enforced and closely monitored, with 1 in 5 food businesses receiving an intervention after non compliance in 2022 to 2023 and 22,400 notifiable food handling and hygiene incidents recorded, while 38% of foodborne illness investigations in 2023 were linked to outbreaks from food.

09 · Category

Technology & Digital1 stats

01
In 2024, 72% of Queensland hospitality operators used online table bookings (vendor/market analysis, 2024), improving discoverability and booking conversion.https://www.opentable.com.au/research/australia-online-booking-usage-2024
Interpretation

Technology & Digital Interpretation

In 2024, 72% of Queensland hospitality operators were using online table bookings, showing that Technology & Digital is actively improving discoverability and booking conversion across the sector.
Reference

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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Queensland Hospitality Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/queensland-hospitality-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Queensland Hospitality Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/queensland-hospitality-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Queensland Hospitality Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/queensland-hospitality-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

34 datasets cited across this report

abs.gov.aujobsqueensland.qld.gov.aubrightlocal.comrba.gov.autrends.google.comanz.com.aurevelsystems.comgartner.comhealth.qld.gov.auaihw.gov.auactuaries.digitalworksafe.qld.gov.auqfes.qld.gov.auhays.com.auqld.gov.auoecd.orgfairwork.gov.aubitre.gov.auqut.edu.auopentable.com.au

+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)