We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples and the Traditional Custodians of Ngunnawal Country, the land on which we meet today. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and also recognise any other people or families with connection to the ACT and Region.
Geoff York, Chief Executive Officer, Crystalbrook Collection, on the new Crystalbrook Aurora 225 room hotel in Garema Place transforming Canberra’s city centre
Geoff provided an update on the progress of Crystalbrook Collection’s newest property, Crystalbrook Aurora, currently under construction in Garema Place, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what’s to come.
As a growing Australian hotel group, Crystalbrook is a trailblazer in sustainable luxury—among the first in Australia’s upscale hotel sector to eliminate single-use plastics, introduce recycled timber key cards and embed environmentally responsible practices without compromising the guest experience. This commitment, supported by partnerships such as EarthCheck, reflects a broader shift in traveller expectations, with sustainability playing an increasingly influential role in booking decisions.
Aurora will reflect Crystalbrook’s four core pillars:
- Responsible luxury
- Personality forward
- Positive rebellion
- Inspired by local
Each Crystalbrook hotel is designed to be personality-led with a strong connection to place. In Canberra, this will come to life through local suppliers, artists and experiences embedded throughout the hotel—ensuring it reflects and celebrates the character of the city and wider region.
The 225-room hotel will feature a rooftop restaurant and bar, a day spa and conference facilities, alongside the return of a familiar Canberra favourite, Gus’s Café and the relocation of Raku to the hotel, bringing two iconic local hospitality venues into the precinct..
Aurora was one of the shortlisted names considered when Canberra was being named in 1912 and means “new dawn”. Geoff described Aurora as a fresh addition to Canberra and the region’s tourism landscape—one designed to complement existing operators and align with the Visit Canberra brand, helping to attract new visitors and access new markets.
Crystalbrook will be actively exploring partnerships with local operators and providers, bringing the best of Canberra and the surrounding region into the hotel experience—from day spa products and local produce to collaborations with artists—ensuring the hotel itself becomes a curated expression of place.
The development is currently on track to open in March 2027, adding a significant new accommodation offering to the Canberra CBD.
Peter Kent, Chair, Outdoors NSW & ACT, on the growth in outdoor sports and activities attracting visitors from across the country to stay and spend in Canberra and the region
Peter introduced Outdoors NSW & ACT as the peak body for outdoor recreation, outdoor education, adventure tourism, and nature therapy. The organisation supports members in building sustainable careers, organisations, and operations that connect communities to nature, foster discovery, enhance wellbeing, develop skills, and build resilience.
While the largest sectors of the industry are outdoor education and outdoor recreation, the fastest-growing are adventure tourism, which rose 17% from 2024 to 2025, and outdoor therapy, still under 1% of the total industry but up 43% over the same period, demonstrating a niche rapidly expanding in visitor interest.
He highlighted the Canberra region as a uniquely positioned hub for outdoor and nature-based tourism, offering an unparalleled mix of experiences all within a couple of hours’ drive. Visitors can enjoy inner-city hotel stays while venturing out to multi-activity experiences that are active, wellness-focused, and culture-rich, including bushwalking, paddling, mountain biking, rock climbing, adventure play, snow activities, water activities, and outdoor therapy.
Peter used Birrigai Rock Shelter to illustrate the region’s cultural and visitor potential. Evidence of continuous Aboriginal occupation dating back 25,000 years makes it an extraordinary site, open daily and just a short walk from the old Tidbinbilla Visitor Centre. Yet fully guided experiences at Birrigai, which truly bring the story and significance to life, currently occur only once a year during the Heritage Festival.
"This type of cultural story… so close to a large urban area is incredibly rare.”
Staffing shortages remain a key constraint on growth. Industry data shows the ACT could support an additional 14,000 jobs, despite impacts from immigration pauses and lifestyle shifts, highlighting a major opportunity for operators to expand cultural engagement and immersive visitor experiences.
The outdoor sector is worth $11 billion nationally, with outdoor education a major driver. Yet despite the Canberra region offering one of the country’s most diverse ranges of experiences, the ACT remains one of the most underdeveloped areas. While much remains untapped, Peter emphasised the enormous potential to grow offerings, attract new visitors to the Canberra region, extend the stays of those already visiting, and deliver authentic, memorable experiences that combine adventure, nature, wellness, and cultural connection.
Garrett Tyler-Parker, Director Analysis and Insights, Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), on the full 2025 visitor data and the latest in the growth of tourism across the region and Australia
Garrett shared the latest insights from Tourism Research Australia, highlighting trends and data relevant to operators nationwide. He also noted the establishment of the Office of Tourism and the Visitor Economy in November last year, providing a dedicated focus on tourism within Austrade and recognising its importance to the Australian economy.
He highlighted three recent TRA reports and publications particularly useful for operators:
- Tourism-related businesses - tracking the number, distribution, and survivability of tourism businesses.
- Tourism Investment Monitor -providing annual insights into tourism projects worth $20 million or more
- Tourism forecast for Australia 2025 to 2030 - a five-year outlook for domestic overnight trips, day trips, and international markets.
Nationally, domestic overnight trips have remained essentially flat since 2022. While the numbers might suggest stability, Garrett emphasised that rising costs mean business outcomes are not truly stable for operators.
From year end 2024 to 2025, the ACT saw a small increase in overnight trips from 2.2 to 2.3 million, while recent data shows a dip in international visitation. In contrast, day trips have grown strongly, both in the ACT and nationally, with national figures showing a 9% rise and a 19% increase in spend year-on-year, as Australians travel while balancing competing expenses.
Tourism-related businesses reached a national record of 361,270 in June 2025, with the ACT adding 65 new businesses—a 1.4% increase, second highest in the country. Investment in tourism infrastructure is also rising: nationally, projects worth $20 million or more grew, with the ACT hosting 11 projects valued at $1.9 billion.
Speaking to the recently released TRA forecast, Garrett notes that this year, for the first time, forecasts include both optimistic and pessimistic scenarios, recognising the range of potential outcomes for the sector.
While the industry continues to face rapidly evolving challenges, he encouraged operators to subscribe to the TRA Visitor Economy newsletter to stay supported with timely insights and receive the latest updates and resources from the Office of Tourism and the Visitor Economy.
Jonathan Kobus, Executive Branch Manager, VisitCanberra, with an update on the current fuel crisis and impact on the Canberra Region tourism industry
Jonathan provided an update on the fuel situation, noting that at the time of the forum, supply across the ACT remained stable. Canberra is continuing to receive regular fuel deliveries through established supply chains, with no immediate disruption expected in the short term.
National Cabinet continues to meet regularly, giving states and territories the chance to coordinate. Earlier this week, a National Fuel Security Plan was agreed, providing a clear framework for monitoring conditions and managing supply across the Commonwealth.
Recent media coverage has created some uncertainty, affecting traveller confidence. Industry feedback indicates this is being driven, at this stage, more by perceived supply risks than fuel prices. While Canberra’s fuel supply remains stable, some surrounding regional areas have experienced greater disruption, further contributing to softer demand.
Tourism Australia has been actively engaging with industry and key stakeholders domestically and internationally. A webinar hosted last Friday included a survey of industry participants, highlighting four main areas of concern: fuel price and supply vulnerability, aviation disruptions, booking cancellations and cash flow impacts, and broader cost pressures affecting travel demand.
Canberra’s strong events calendar, including the National Folk Festival and upcoming autumn events, continues to support visitation, with many visitors proceeding with planned travel.
The ACT Government continues to coordinate its response and engage with industry, focusing on clear communication and maintaining confidence in travel across the broader region.
Key takeaways for industry:
- Fuel supply in the ACT is currently stable, with no expected short-term disruptions
- Some regional areas are experiencing greater impact, further contributing to softer demand
- Visitor hesitation is primarily being driven by perception of supply risk
- Clear and consistent proactive messaging to customers remains critical for operators to maintain bookings
- The situation continues to evolve, with ongoing coordination across government and industry
- VisitCanberra will continue to keep industry informed and maintain messaging to visitors that supports their confidence to travel
Dr David Marshall, Chair of the Leaders Forum highlighted:
The Canberra and Region Heritage Festival will run from Friday 11 April to Saturday 10 May. You can find out more on the website.
The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) and VisitCanberra are hosting a forum on Thursday 16 April, focused on selling Australia and the Canberra Region to Chinese travellers. Further details and registration are available here.
Nominations are now open for the Canberra Region Top Tourism Town Awards, as well as the inaugural Canberra Region Top Tour Guide Awards. More information is available via the website.
Regional Development Australia Southern NSW and the ACT are hosting THRIVE 2026: Powering Regional Prosperity at the Shine Dome on Tuesday 29 April. You can access more information about the event and secure your tickets here.
The Australian Business Events Association is hosting ABEA ACT Emerging Leaders Connect: Parliament House Back-of-House Tour + Conversation on 23 April 2026. This is a free event designed for emerging leaders across the ACT business community. You can access more information and register here.
David acknowledged the sad passing of Carol Cartwright, who many within the industry knew well. Carol made a significant contribution to the tourism industry over more than 30 years, including roles at Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial and the National Museum of Australia. She was a member of the National Council of the Australian Museum and Gallery Association and served as a national and local tourism awards judge, as well as being a great attendee of Canberra Region Tourism Advisory forums. Our commiserations go out to Mark and her family.
The next forum will be held on Wednesday 6 May, featuring guest speakers Alicia Payne MP, Federal Member for Canberra; Karen Jones, CEO of Destination New South Wales; and Lucio Ribeiro, Chief AI and Innovation Officer at TBWA – The Disruption Company.
Upcoming forum dates and recaps of all previous forums are available on our website.