Lady Gaga is returning to Australia for the first time in over a decade. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Park MGM Las Vegas.
Lady Gaga’s return to Australia has sent short-term rental demand into overdrive, with bookings soaring in major capitals ahead of her first concerts in over a decade here.
Airbnb Australia and New Zealand boss Susan Wheeldon confirmed bookings have more than doubled ahead of the music icon’s Mayhem Ball, which kicks off Friday, December 5 – right at the start of Australia’s peak travel period.
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Lady Gaga’s return to Australia has been long-awaited by fans, some of whom are coming from as far away as the United Kingdom. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation.
There has been a major surge in local demand for short-term rentals during the concert dates, with the tour opening at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on December 5, before heading to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on December 9 and Sydney’s Accor Stadium on December 12.
Airbnb searches for Sydney during the concert dates are up a shock 178 per cent compared to last year.
“Airbnb searches for Brisbane during Lady Gaga’s concert dates are up 98 per cent compared to the same period of time last year. That’s nearly double the interest – proof that Aussies go gaga for Gaga,” Ms Wheeldon said.
Fans from as far away as the United Kingdom are among those making the pilgrimage to Australian state capitals for the highly anticipated concerts, Airbnb found.
“Domestic fans are travelling to Brissy from places as far as Melbourne, Adelaide and even Perth while road-trippers are coming in from the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Rocky and Toowoomba and international fans are flying in from New Zealand, the UK and the US.”
Adding to the mix is the second Ashes test, which kicks off Friday in Brisbane at the Gabba.
“Searches have spiked for Woolloongabba, home of course to the Gabba cricket ground,” Ms Wheeldon said.
“Tour tourism is also driving demand over summer. The Spilt Milk music festival has also seen surges in Airbnb searches for Claremont in Perth, Carrara on the Gold Coast, Ballarat in Victoria and Canberra.”
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This short-stay rental is available in Melbourne’s Southbank for just over $960 a night. Source: Airbnb
Fans heading to Melbourne for the Mayhem Ball still have around 300 homes showing up as available within the Marvel Stadium map search on the night of the concert, with hosts charging anywhere from just over $110 for a one-bed unit in Thornbury to more than $960 for a three-bedroom Southbank apartment.
In Brisbane there are over 300 properties available in suburbs near Suncorp Stadium, priced from $84 for a bedroom in Newmarket to more than $370 for a one-bedroom apartment at the Star Casino at Queens Wharf in the CBD.
Sydney properties range from $59 for a private room in Canley Heights to $415 for an entire one-bedroom unit in Burwood, with more than 300 properties showing as available in the map zone.
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This one bedroom unit in Burwood in Sydney is $415 a night now. Picture: Airbnb.
Ms Wheeldon said December and January were Australia’s peak domestic travel months.
“We’re seeing Aussies travel to Sydney and Melbourne to visit friends and family over Christmas but also to catch some sporting action at the cricket and tennis.”
That demand has pushed short-stay bookings higher across the capitals.
“With the summer holidays just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to become an Airbnb host. It’s a great time of year to make some extra money – especially if your home is sitting empty while you’re away on summer holidays.”
She said the firm had made it “easier than ever to become a host” with Airbnb co-hosting creating “a side hustle without the hassle”.
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