Not a single hotel has been built in Logan in almost two decades.
But 18 years later, following failed incentives and a renewed focus, mayor Jon Raven says there is more interest than “ever before”.
Logan City Council data says the city is about 147 hotel beds short of meeting current nightly demand.
That is almost half of the 318 beds that exist.
Between tradespeople needed for major construction projects to big businesses stopping by for conferences, Cr Raven said there was no shortage of potential guests.
And with landmark events and the 2032 Olympics on the horizon, and an internationally-marketed baseball stadium on the cards, that demand is expected to only grow.
Cr Raven said most of the demand currently comes from work travel, such as business, construction, and civil works.
“And that’s before you start looking at things like Distillery Road Markets, which are doing more and more live music. They say they could do bigger events that would go for longer if there was accommodation nearby.”
There is currently a 35-room accommodation being added to the Logan Village Hotel, which is expected to be finished in March 2026.
Other than that, not much has changed in recent years.
For at least a decade, the council has offered incentives to developers to establish hotels in the city, such as deferred or discounted infrastructure charges.
But according to Cr Raven, no one has taken the council up on the offer.
“We are now looking for other ways we can incentivise them,” he said.
“The question for council is: is there something more we could do to incentivise or partner with a hotelier to come to the city? What have we got to do to get them across the line?”
He said the council would potentially consider deals like buying land and leasing it to hoteliers, if that made the process easier for them.
“We are now getting way more interest than we ever did before,” Cr Raven said.
“It’s just about having an open conversation instead of saying, ‘hey, I’ve got one lever I can pull and that’s a really small discount to your infrastructure charges’.”
He said council had been talking with hoteliers about building modular hotels in areas like Logan Central, Loganholme, Meadowbrook or Springwood – close to public transport and business-dense areas.
Next, the council is working towards building more reasons to come to Logan that aren’t just work related.
“It’s really important to get facilities – like Beenleigh entertainment centre, Logan Metro Sports and Events, Kingston Park Raceway, KBF, and the entertainment center at Distillery Road – all humming so there are reasons to come to the city,” Cr Raven said.
Last month, the mayor was busy pitching a potential world-class baseball stadium to Baseball Queensland, Baseball Australia, the Brisbane Bandits and Major League Baseball, all of which Cr Raven said loved the idea.
This month, he will be trying to sell it to investors in Taiwan and Japan.
Cr Raven said the stadium would attract international teams all year round – during the sport’s on and off seasons – and their fans. A hotel for these guests would be essential.
“There is a reason why baseball stacks up other than just the Olympics. It actually makes really good sense.”
Logan Chamber of Commerce president Arwen McGregor, in her latest MyCity Logan column in July, said it was crucial Logan jumped on accommodation opportunities ahead of the Olympics.
“Back in 2019, before the Olympic announcement, the Logan Office of Economic Development projected a need for 65,000 room nights by 2036,” she said.
“This translates to an astonishing 650 new accommodation facilities, each offering 100 rooms, to meet the anticipated demand. Such growth isn’t just about beds; it’s about a wave of employment opportunities across construction, manufacturing, IT, front office, housekeeping, food and beverage, maintenance, and myriad supply chain industries. We’re talking about a significant boost in jobs and traineeships for our community.
“Why aren’t these developments already in the pipeline? While the economic uncertainties of 2020-2021 undoubtedly played a role, now is the time for all stakeholders to look forward.
“We must collectively decide what kind of experience we want to offer Olympic visitors. Logan has a unique opportunity to proudly showcase its rich diversity of cultures, allowing international guests to find a personal connection.”
