Melbourne Grand Prix 2025: Impact On Vacation Rentals

Updated : Mar 25, 2025

The 2025 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for March 14-16, 2025, at Albert Park in Melbourne, represents more than just a premier racing event. For short-term rental hosts in Melbourne, it presents a significant opportunity to maximize revenue and occupancy rates. This article explores the Melbourne Grand Prix 2025 impact on vacation rentals Australia, drawing insights from comprehensive data analysis of the Melbourne market.

Formula 1 events are known for their ability to drive tourism and stimulate local economies. As one of the most prestigious motorsport championships in the world, F1 attracts passionate fans globally who are willing to travel great distances to experience the thrill of the race in person. For Melbourne, hosting the Australian Grand Prix means welcoming thousands of visitors seeking accommodation during the event period, creating a surge in demand for short-term rentals.

Data Analysis Methodology

To conduct this analysis, we created a market dashboard encompassing a 10-kilometer radius around Albert Park, the venue for the Melbourne Grand Prix. This allowed us to capture data for properties most likely to be affected by the event. 

The key metrics we analyzed include:

1. Occupancy rates: Percentage of available nights that were booked
2. Average Daily Rate (ADR): Average price per night in AUD
3. Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR): Total revenue divided by total available rooms
4. Number of booked nights: Total number of nights booked across all properties
5. Total available listings: Number of properties available for rent

We compared these metrics across three periods:

• Event week: March 14-16, 2025 (Grand Prix weekend)
• Previous week: March 7-9, 2025
• Same period last year: March 15-17, 2024

Key Findings: The Grand Prix Effect

Record-Breaking Occupancy Rates

The Melbourne Grand Prix weekend is driving exceptional occupancy rates in the short-term rental market. 

Our data shows an occupancy rate of 81% during the event period, representing a 25% increase compared to the previous week (56%) and a 29% increase compared to the same period last year (52%).

This dramatic surge in occupancy demonstrates the intense demand for accommodation during the Grand Prix weekend. With over 10,780 listings in our sample area, the difference between normal occupancy and Grand Prix occupancy translates to thousands of additional bookings across the Melbourne market.

Substantial ADR Growth

The most striking finding is the surge in Average Daily Rate (ADR) during the Grand Prix weekend. 

The ADR during the event period reached AUD 410, representing a 94% increase compared to the previous week (AUD 211) and an 89% increase compared to the same period last year (AUD 217).

This near-doubling of nightly rates indicates that guests are willing to pay premium prices for accommodation during high-demand periods, particularly for properties located near the race venue. The combination of higher occupancy and significantly higher rates creates a substantial revenue opportunity for property owners and managers.

Explosive RevPAR Growth

Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR), which combines occupancy and pricing data to provide a comprehensive view of revenue performance, shows the most dramatic growth of all metrics. 

During the Grand Prix weekend, RevPAR reached AUD 332, representing a 181% increase compared to the previous week (AUD 118) and a 194% increase compared to the same period last year (AUD 113).

This explosive growth in RevPAR underscores the extraordinary revenue potential of the Grand Prix weekend for short-term rental hosts. It’s particularly noteworthy that RevPAR nearly tripled compared to normal periods, indicating that the event’s impact on revenue is even greater than its impact on occupancy or rates alone.

Significant Increase in Booked Nights

The total number of booked nights during the Grand Prix weekend reached 26,205, representing a 45% increase compared to the previous week (18,117) and a 56% increase compared to the same period last year (16,759).

This booking surge reflects higher occupancy rates and suggests that guests may be booking longer stays during the event period. The increased booked nights directly translate to increased host revenue and demonstrate the Grand Prix’s ability to drive significant additional bookings in the Melbourne market.

Comparing the Grand Prix Effect to Other Events

The Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix stands out as one of the most impactful events for the short-term rental market in Melbourne. While other significant events like the Australian Open tennis tournament, Melbourne Cup horse racing carnival, and various music festivals also drive increased demand, the F1 Grand Prix typically generates the highest premium in terms of percentage increase in ADR and RevPAR.

This exceptional impact can be attributed to several factors:

1. International appeal: Formula 1 has a massive global following, attracting international visitors who typically have higher spending power and longer stays.
   
2. Concentrated event period: Unlike events that span multiple weeks, the Grand Prix concentrates demand into a single weekend, creating intense competition for available accommodations.
   
3. Affluent demographic: F1 fans tend to have above-average incomes and are willing to spend more on accommodation, particularly if it offers convenience to the venue.
   
4. Corporate demand: The event attracts corporate sponsors, teams, and their guests, who often seek premium accommodations and are less price-sensitive.

Forecasting Melbourne Grand Prix 2025 Impact On Vacation Rentals

Based on the data trends observed between 2024 and 2025, we can anticipate that the 2026 Melbourne Grand Prix will continue to generate substantial premiums for short-term rental hosts. Several factors suggest this trend will continue:

1. Growing F1 popularity: The sport has experienced significant global viewership and fan engagement growth, particularly in markets like Australia.
   
2. Post-pandemic travel recovery: International travel continues to recover and grow, likely increasing the number of international visitors to the Melbourne Grand Prix.
   
3. Increasing short-term rental adoption: As both travelers and property owners become more comfortable with the short-term rental market, we can expect continued growth in both supply and demand, though demand growth for premium events is likely to outpace supply growth.
   
4. Digital nomad trends: With more professionals embracing remote work, there’s potential for longer stays surrounding the Grand Prix weekend, as visitors combine attending the event with working remotely from Melbourne.

Strategies for Maximizing Revenue During Major Events

Based on the data and market insights, we recommend the following strategies for short-term rental hosts looking to maximize revenue during major events like the Melbourne Grand Prix:

1. Implement Advanced Dynamic Pricing

While basic dynamic pricing adjusts rates based on the day of the week and seasonality, advanced dynamic pricing strategies for major events should consider:

• Proximity-based pricing: Adjusting rates based on the property’s distance from the venue, with higher premiums for properties within walking distance or easy public transport access.
  
• Lead time adjustments: Implementing pricing curves that adjust rates based on how far in advance bookings are made, with optimal balance between capturing early bookings and maximizing last-minute premiums.
  
• Competitive positioning: Monitoring competing properties’ rates and adjustments to ensure your property remains appropriately priced relative to comparable listings.
  
• Minimum stay optimization: Testing different minimum stay requirements to identify the optimal balance between maximizing occupancy and capturing premium rates.

2. Enhance Property Offerings

Creating a superior guest experience during major events can justify higher rates and lead to better reviews:

• Event-specific amenities: Provide amenities specifically tailored to Grand Prix attendees, such as earplugs, sunscreen, water bottles, or transportation information.
  
• Partnerships with local businesses: Arranging special deals with local restaurants, transportation services, or experience providers to create value-added packages.
  
• Flexible check-in/check-out: Offering flexible arrival and departure times to accommodate varying race schedules and flight times, potentially at a premium rate.
  
• Welcome packages: Creating Grand Prix-themed welcome packages with local products, event information, and special touches to enhance the guest experience.

3. Optimize Listing Content

During high-demand periods, the conversion rate (percentage of views that result in bookings) becomes particularly important:

• Event-specific descriptions: Temporarily updating property descriptions to highlight features relevant to Grand Prix attendees (e.g., “Just 15 minutes’ walk from Gate 3 of Albert Park Circuit”).
  
• Transportation emphasis: Providing detailed information about transportation options to and from the venue, including walking times, public transit routes, and rideshare availability.
  
• Previous guest experiences: If you’ve hosted during previous Grand Prix events, include testimonials from satisfied guests who attended the race.
  
• Calendar highlights: Ensuring your calendar clearly shows availability during the event period and using calendar notes to indicate special event pricing.

You can use our FREE tool – STRings: Airbnb Description Generator, a powerful tool that employs Artificial Intelligence to generate compelling, relevant, and best Airbnb descriptions for your listing within seconds. ‘

Our Airbnb description generator does the following: 

1. Instant Creation: STRings uses AI, specifically ChatGPT, to create personalized, engaging, and best Airbnb descriptions.
2. Boost Bookings: Crafting a well-crafted Airbnb description is crucial for attracting more guests, improving your booking rate, and making your listings stand out in the crowded Airbnb marketplace.
3. First Impression: Your title and description are often the first things potential guests see. They play a pivotal role in their decision to book your property, making it essential to have an attention-grabbing and informative description.
4. User-Friendly: Whether you’re a seasoned host or new to Airbnb, STRings makes it easy to generate captivating content that can significantly impact your property’s booking success.

It’s important to note that this is an exploratory project. While the generated content is AI-powered, it’s recommended that you proofread and fine-tune the final titles and descriptions to ensure they align perfectly with your property’s unique features and offerings.

4. Leverage Multiple Platforms

While many hosts rely primarily on one or two booking platforms, major events present an opportunity to expand visibility:

• Platform diversification: Listing on multiple platforms to maximize visibility during high-demand periods, recognizing that different platforms may attract different demographic segments.
  
• Direct booking options: Creating special offers for direct bookings to reduce commission costs during these high-revenue periods.
  
• Local partnerships: Exploring partnerships with event organizers, corporate hospitality providers, or local tourism authorities who may need accommodation for guests or participants.

Conclusion: The Growing Opportunity of Event-Based Revenue Optimization

Melbourne grand prix 2025 impact on vacation rentals Australia is significant. With occupancy increases of 29%, ADR growth of 89%, and RevPAR growth of an extraordinary 194% compared to the same period last year, the data conclusively demonstrates the transformative effect of this premier sporting event on the local accommodation market.

For property owners and managers, the key to maximizing returns during such high-demand periods lies in sophisticated pricing strategies, property preparation, and marketing approaches tailored specifically to the event and its attendees.