Brisbane City Council is calling on suburban pubs to help address a critical shortage of hotel rooms ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The new initiative, dubbed the Suburban Pub Stays Strategy, aims to encourage pub owners and operators to deliver new accommodation and function spaces by utilising large, underutilised sites in the suburbs.

The strategy includes considering planning changes to make it easier for pub owners and operators to build hotel rooms and conference facilities. This push is crucial for the city’s visitor economy; south-east Queensland currently has 46,000 hotel rooms, which is significantly less than the supply found in cities like Los Angeles (120,000) and Paris (133,000), according to a Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) report.

Currently, about 70 Brisbane pubs are situated on sites measuring 2000 square metres or more, yet only 15 of these sites currently support accommodation. The Council estimates that by redeveloping just 20 suburban pubs, more than 1,600 new rooms could be added to Brisbane’s hotel supply, supporting local jobs and businesses.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner explained the initiative as “going back to the future,” aiming to bring back a time when suburban pubs commonly offered rooms upstairs. “It’s a simple idea that will help provide more places for families and friends to stay, right near the people they love,” Schrinner said. He also stressed that the strategy aims to strike the right balance by encouraging hotel rooms in appropriate areas while ensuring suburban homes remain available on the long-term rental market.

The need for new hotel investment is urgent, as Property Council research shows a 90 per cent drop in new hotel rooms over the past five years. Hotel construction in Brisbane fell by 90 per cent between 2019 and 2024, partly due to a 40 per cent increase in construction costs and reduced demand during COVID-19.

The suburban pub model offers a viable alternative, as smaller-scale projects can be delivered more affordably and faster than larger inner-city projects. The redevelopment of The Brook Hotel, for instance, was completed in just over a year at a cost of approximately $25 million, demonstrating strong demand for suburban accommodation. The Glen Hotel is also undergoing a major $30 million-plus redevelopment, which will deliver more than 100 five-star hotel rooms. Brian and Cathy Fitzgibbons of The Glen Hotel stated that Council’s support and the Suburban Pub Stays Strategy provide operators with the confidence to invest and “dream bigger and act sooner”.

Industry figures have lauded the strategy as a necessary step. Ross Elliott of Suburban Futures noted that this initiative is a genuine long-term legacy opportunity that allows the suburbs to offer a solution to the accommodation problem. Jess Caire, Executive Director of the Property Council, called the strategy “a great example of how local government can partner with the private sector to deliver the hotel rooms Brisbane needs”. QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler welcomed the initiative, highlighting that the accommodation shortfall is one of the most pressing constraints on the visitor economy.

Bernie Hogan, CEO of the Queensland Hotels Association, concluded that targeted initiatives like this, coupled with existing planning regulation, can help ensure that all suburbs of Brisbane are great places to live for locals while also providing accommodation for city guests.

Pub operators, industry representatives, and residents are encouraged to share their feedback on the Suburban Pub Stays Strategy before 28 February 2026 by searching for the plan via www.brisbane.qld.gov.au.