Australian Hotels Prepare for Boom in Bookings in Lead Up to Ashes

George Bedwani

With an estimated 37,000* international visitors heading to Australia for the Ashes test series this time next year, tickets to the matches aren't the only things in high demand.

Australia is set to battle England on home soil for the Ashes, with the first Test starting at The Gabba in Brisbane on November 21, 2013 and the 5th Test finishing in Sydney on January 7, 2014. The five Test series is expected to be a boom for local tourism operators.

According to Metro Hotels' Chief Operating Officer, George Bedwani, the Group has already experienced a huge demand for hotel accommodation in all cities where the tests are being held.
"Metro Hotels' in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney started receiving bookings from both agents and individuals as early as the day after England regained the Ashes in the 2010/2011 series," he said.

"Bookings are already extremely strong, especially group bookings, despite the series not commencing for another 12 months."

The Ashes is one of the most famous sporting rivalries in the history of the sport, and certainly cricket's oldest and most fiercely fought competition.

After England's 3-1 win in the 2010-11 Ashes Series, the 2013-14 Tour is already setting itself up to be another historic showdown, with England looking to continue their winning streak and the Aussies fired up to
win back the urn.

In addition to the test matches, there will also be five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches between Australia and England.

With 13 properties across Australia, Metro Hospitality Group is the country's oldest Australian owned hotel chain. The Group offers a range of 4-star hotels and apartments in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Gladstone, with the same affordable, quality, centrally located accommodation and friendly service common to all Metro properties Australia-wide.

*2013-14 Ashes series

1st Test - Thursday 21 to 25 November 2013, The Gabba - Brisbane

2nd Test - Thursday 5 to 9 December 2013, Adelaide Oval - Adelaide

3rd Test - Friday 13 to 17 December 2013, WACA Ground - Perth

4th Test - Thursday 26 to 30 December 2013, MCG - Melbourne

5th Test - Friday 3 to 7 January 2014, SCG - Sydney

*figure of 37,000 is an estimate based on the number of international visitors to Australia for the 2006/07 Ashes series.

Metro Hotels is the public face of Transmetro Corporation, an Australian owned publiccompany listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The Group currently provides a national accommodation network of properties, with over 1000 rooms in key locations and major cities across Australia.