Beef Australia and Airbnb encourage Central Queensland locals to host

Beef Australia and Airbnb encourage Central Queensland locals to host, as region prepares for world-class sustainable beef event in 2024

With one year to go, Airbnb and Beef Australia are calling on Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast locals to host on Airbnb ahead of the May 2024 event, to help the region handle the increased demand for accommodation.

The internationally renowned event will return to Rockhampton for a week-long exhibition and celebration of all facets of the beef industry and wider regional community including producers, scientists, chefs, students and exhibitors from 5-11 May 2024.

In 2021, the event saw a record breaking number of attendees, with over 115,000 visitors to Rockhampton, generating $90 million in economic activity for the region. In 2024, visitor numbers and accommodation demand are expected to surge with the return of international travel. For locals, there has never been a better time to consider becoming a Host. 

Airbnb allows guests to find a vibrant mix of accommodation options to suit their needs and budget, and to discover what it’s like to live like a local. For Hosts, it allows them to share their space and community, and to offset their cost of living.

Beef Australia CEO Simon Irwin said available accommodation in the region has always been a challenge for Beef Australia but a vital part of the success of the event’s growth. 

“Naturally, hosting an international event in regional Australia comes with challenges, but having sufficient accommodation to accommodate the influx of visitors remains one of the biggest.

In 2021, the event saw approximately 85,000 visitors travel to Rockhampton for the weeklong event. That’s over 73 percent of our audience looking for accommodation, and with the return of international visitors in 2024 the demand on the accommodation sector will be even greater. 

To help us host the expected increase in visitation, we’ve been working with Airbnb to help locals list a room or a whole home with ease and take advantage of this economic opportunity that this international event presents for Central Queenslanders. 

Our aim is to have an adequate supply of accommodation available for when our tickets go on sale later this year. This is why we are calling on locals between Mount Morgan and the Capricorn Coast to begin their hosting journey with Airbnb.”

Simon Irwin, Beef Australia CEO

“Hosting on Airbnb is a great way to help showcase the Beef 2024 event, Rockhampton as a destination, and the diversity in events Regional Australia has to offer.

Airbnb offers a unique opportunity for new and existing Hosts in Central Queensland to be a part of this incredible event, while also creating an opportunity to earn extra income to combat rising cost of living. 

Home sharing helps cities use existing homes to scale up their capacity where there isn’t enough space in traditional forms of accommodation. It also empowers locals to provide sustainable and affordable options across the city which benefits the local economy.

Hosts on Airbnb play a valuable role in making guests feel extremely welcome, and our Rockhampton Host community is no exception as they help to point guests in the direction of the best hidden gems and local businesses to support.”

Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb’s Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand

Tony Williams, Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor, said this is a great opportunity for local residents to play host and help visitors live like a local for this very special triannual event.

“Beef Australia is the premier event on the agricultural event calendar because it not only showcases our incredible industry but it offers opportunities to our local accommodation providers, retail, hospitality, and tourism operators.

We can’t wait to showcase our beautiful beef capital again in 2024 with more visitors than ever.”

Tony Williams, Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor

Airbnb is proud to support the growth of agritourism in Australia. Last year we partnered with the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) and Regionality to design a new regulatory framework for rural land to unlock Queensland’s potential as the nation’s agritourism capital; while the partnership with Australian Regional tourism directly funded a National Agritourism Strategy Framework to support the emerging sector.

From the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Townsville hosting its first ever interstate footy fixture, the world cycling championships in Wollongong or last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Airbnb Hosts have a long history of helping cities and regions accommodate big events, while generating benefits for local families and communities. Home sharing allows cities to flexibly increase the number of guests they can accommodate without expensive building and infrastructure projects, providing a more sustainable way of accommodating a surge in visitors.We encourage those who are thinking about Hosting to start getting their property and listing ready. Last year, Airbnb made it even easier to Airbnb your home through Airbnb Setup, featuring one-to-one guidance from a Superhost, the opportunity to host an experienced guest as your first guest, as well as one-tap access to specially-trained Community support agents. Together with even more AirCover for Hosts, which tripled damage protection to $3 million and expanded guest identity verification, among other top protections for both inside and outside your home, it’s a great time to become a Host and start earning.