Gold Coast businesses report strong summer, but COVID recovery will not be easy

Some Gold Coast accommodation providers are reporting their best Christmas period in years, but not everyone was able to capitalise on the reopened border. (ABC Gold Coast: Heidi Sheehan)

After two years of border closures, lockdowns, and failed peak periods, the summer holiday has delivered some much-needed relief to accommodation providers as visitors return to the Gold Coast. 

Destination Gold Coast chief executive Patricia O'Callaghan said while the pain had not been eased "across the board", the situation now was "a lot more positive than it started out to be".

"For a lot of our businesses on the Gold Coast, this was a make-or-break summer for them," she said.

"We've had two long years of living and operating within this pandemic and the difficulties of doing that.

But it was a slow start, with many businesses facing staffing issues as COVID-19 spread through the city.

Patricia O'Callaghan says businesses still face a "long road" to recovery. (ABC Gold Coast: Heidi Sheehan)

"Our operators weren't able to take the maximum opportunity and advantage of visitors coming, so we saw a lot of them at reduced capacity, reduced hours — some of them had to close," Ms O'Callaghan said. 

"The start of December was definitely challenging, as much as we were optimistic with our borders reopening, it was obviously challenging with the testing regime."

Michael Stephens says it was a pleasure to have the 'no vacancy' sign lit up for so long. (Supplied: Michael Stephens)

'Great for morale'

Michael Stephens, manager of The Breakers in Surfers Paradise, said it had been the "best Christmas in years".

"We've been sitting at 100 per cent occupancy — we've had the 'no vacancy' sign up from the 26th of December and we took it down on Sunday," he said.

"[Last year's holiday periods] were shocking for us."

Gemma Leatham from Bayview Apartments Rainbow Bay said summer had been "significantly better" than any peak period over the past two years.

"We've run at 95 per cent occupancy — it's a huge relief," she said.

"It was great for the morale.

Both managers said future bookings were looking strong.

Ms O'Callaghan said after years of hardship and the erosion of confidence among businesses and travellers alike she was taking the positives where she could.

One silver lining, she said, was the pent-up desire to travel to the Gold Coast.

"Demand for the Gold Coast is at highs we haven't seen in a long time — people are starting to book further out," she said.

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