Australia Scores High Occupancy Rates

The Western Australian city of Perth has the highest occupancy rates outside the US, according to a report by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

Last year the city recorded an occupancy rate of 85.1 percent, followed by Panama with 84.7 percent, Dubai at 84.5 percent and Brisbane on 84.3 percent.

The list, which tracks 7,800 hotels in 165 cities outside the US, saw Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Cairns also feature in the top 20.

Sydney-based Deloitte partner Ian Breedon says occupancy in Australian cities was boosted by a lack of new hotel projects.

He says declining travel costs "will push up the demand for more hotel space in Australia".

By staff writer