The accommodation industry is anticipating an upsurge in business as a direct result of the National Gallery of Australia’s Italian Renaissance exhibition.
The exhibition, which will run from December this year until April next year in Canberra, is set to drive room occupancy within the national capital, as well as in Australia’s international gateway cities.
“Australia’s accommodation industry is excited about the prospect of the Renaissance exhibition lifting domestic and overseas visitation levels,” said the Chief Executive Officer of the Accommodation Association of Australia, Richard Munro.
“The timing of the exhibition is particularly positive for accommodation businesses because apart from one or two exceptions – such as New Year’s Eve – Christmas and January are traditionally quiet periods for the industry due to lower levels of corporate travel.
“Given this will be the first time any of these works have left Europe, the exhibition is likely to draw tourists from interstate and overseas.”
Munro said that while major international sporting fixtures are also good for business, significant cultural events such as this exhibition are extremely valuable for the accommodation industry.
“A person who travels to attend art exhibitions such as Renaissance invariably has a high level of discretionary spending, which is why our industry will warmly welcome the opening of this exhibition in December,” Munro said.
“For example, the Masterpieces from Paris exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia in late 2009/early 2010 attracted more than 470,000 people. According to the ACT Government, its direct economic impact on Canberra was more than $94 million, while other Australian locations also saw benefits from visitors who travelled through other cities or towns before or after the exhibition.
“With the Floriade festival taking place from next month, Canberra continues to boast a strong program of international events.”