Grand Prix helps drive people back to Melbourne

Largely thanks to a record-breaking Australian Grand Prix, more people have been reported to be staying in Melbourne.

The Herald Sun revealed March saw Melbourne’s hotel occupancy total soar to a new high in the post COVID era.

With an average occupancy of 77.3% throughout March, it was the highest recording month since February 2020 on the eve of COVID-19.

The market recorded its highest occupancy level of 90.7% on the first day of the Australian Grand Prix.

As Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso topped the first two practice sessions on Friday, people from far and wide started flocking into the Victorian capital.

A crowd of 122,927 ventured to Albert Park just to watch practice, and by Sunday that figure grew to 131,124 to watch Verstappen claim a crazy race.

All up 444,631 people packed into the street circuit to watch the 2023 event, while both the Saturday and Sunday figures smashed the previous record of 128,294 in 2022.

The Grand Prix being back to its best no doubt helped bring an increased amount of visitors from New Zealand, India and the UK.

Tourism Accommodation Australia Victoria general manager Dougal Hollis paid credit to events such as the Australian Grand Prix for the success.

“I think the bounce back has been quicker and more pronounced than perhaps a lot of industry experts expected,” he told Herald Sun.

After one of the most exciting Australian Grands Prix ever held at Melbourne, excitement is already surrounding the 2024 race.