Hotel bookings in Australia are projected to increase by 5.6% year-on-year between June and September 2026, according to new data from hotel commerce platform SiteMinder.
The findings place Australia among the strongest-performing accommodation markets in Asia-Pacific, behind only Taiwan and New Zealand, and above the regional average growth rate of 3.4%.
The mid-year edition of SiteMinder’s Hotel Booking Trends report is based on booking data from its platform, which processes more than 135 million hotel reservations annually across 22 tourism markets.
The report found that travellers are booking accommodation earlier and staying slightly longer. Average booking lead times increased from 158 days to 160 days, the longest in Asia-Pacific, while the average length of stay rose from 2.17 nights to 2.18 nights.
Australia’s average daily room rate increased by 5.2% year-on-year from A$369 (US$241) to A$388, making it the highest among Asia-Pacific markets covered in the report.
Domestic travellers continue to account for the majority of hotel demand, representing 84% of bookings between June and September 2026, up from 81.8% a year earlier. Australia also recorded the highest domestic booking share and the largest year-on-year increase in domestic bookings across the region.
The report noted a slight increase in cancellations, with the rate rising from 17.65% to 18.98%. Despite the increase, Australia recorded the second-lowest cancellation rate in Asia-Pacific, behind New Zealand.
Bradley Haines, regional vice president, Asia-Pacific, SiteMinder, said: “What we’re seeing is a more deliberate traveller, one who is booking earlier, committing to longer stays and placing a greater value on experiences.
“For accommodation providers, that creates greater certainty around future occupancy and supports stronger revenue planning.”
