AUSTRALIA | Two sold-out concerts by Lady Gaga at Accor Stadium in December sparked a hotel, airline and hospitality boom for Sydney.
Data from Booking.com shows that Sydney has surged to the number one spot for weekend accommodation searches from 12–14 December 2025. The searches show a 75 percent increase year-on-year. Booking.com Regional Manager Oceania & Korea, Todd Lacey, said when a global superstar like Lady Gaga touches down, the travel industry feels the mayhem.
"The significant uplift in accommodation searches on Booking.com directly illustrates the effect major cultural events play in casting a spell on Australian domestic travel demand,” said Todd.
“With searches increasing as high as 75 percent for Sydney, these blockbuster events are clearly must-attend motivators for a diverse audience of Aussie travellers. This trend reinforces our broader Booking.com Travel Trends research, which shows over a third of Aussie travellers are planning event travel solely for a music festival or concert."
Accor has reported its hotels in Sydney CBD are currently at 92 percent occupancy on Friday and 85 percent occupancy on Saturday, equating to 19 percent and 17 percent year-on-year increases. Accor’s hotels at Sydney Olympic Park, located directly adjacent to Accor Stadium, are at capacity: 96 percent on Friday and 98 percent on Saturday.
“Lady Gaga’s tour shows how major artists can put cities on the Edge of Glory when it comes to visitation and economic activity,” Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer Adrian Williams said.
"Her performances in Melbourne and Brisbane sparked exceptional demand, and Sydney is now experiencing the same uplift as fans arrive for her shows at Accor Stadium. We see time and again that when global icons perform in Australia, visitors move, hotels fill and the hospitality sector thrives.”
Airbnb Australia and New Zealand Country Manager Susan Wheeldon said earlier this month that bookings had more than doubled on its platform ahead of the tour.
Airbnb searches for Sydney during the concert dates were up 178 percent compared to last year.
Fans from as far away as the United Kingdom are among those who have made the pilgrimage to Australia, Airbnb found.
"Artists like Lady Gaga don’t just sell tickets, they spark movement. Their performances inspire fans to travel, to connect, and to be part of an unforgettable shared experience."
The results follow the latest CommBank Household Spending Insights report, highlighting concerts by AC/DC, Oasis and Metallica at Sydney's Accor Stadium as contributing to recreation being the standout spending category during November,” Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) CEO Margy Osmond said.
New data from TTF also shows live entertainment continues to drive significant interstate travel.
More than a third (36 percent) of Australians are crossing state borders each year to experience concerts, sporting matches, and other major events.
“Live events are a crucial part of Australia’s cultural fabric and economy," Osmond said.
"Australians are willing to travel for the moments that matter, and our research shows big events continue to draw people across the country.”
The 25 to 34-year-old age group leads this trend, with over half (51 percent) saying they travel interstate for events annually, closely followed by 18 to 24-year-olds (46 percent).
Men are somewhat more likely to travel for events than women, with 39 percent versus 33 percent respectively.
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