Corporate travel follows the billion-dollar trail to regional Queensland

The numbers follow the Queensland Government's June 2025 launch of the Destination 2045 Strategy, which committed more than $1 billion over four years to aviation, regional events and tourism infrastructure. At its heart sits the $75 million Connecting Queensland Fund, designed to stimulate new and more frequent regional air services ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Games.

Accommodation and food services broke into FCM's top five industries for corporate travel in Q4 2025, signalling that Queensland’s push to position itself as an events and tourism powerhouse is translating into real commercial activity.

“Regional Queensland is an economic powerhouse, and the travel data proves corporate Australia is finally treating it like one,” said Renos Rologas, ANZ General Manager of FCM Travel.

“The diversity of what’s driving these trips has changed. The fact is, it's not just project coordinators heading to the regions anymore — it's executives, decision-makers, and investors.

“The State Government's investment in air connectivity is hurrying that shift, but the fundamentals were always there: resources, infrastructure, events, and now the transport links to match."

Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said Brisbane Airport was Queensland’s gateway to the world.

“As Queensland’s premier transport hub, Brisbane Airport plays a critical role in connecting regional communities to enable tourism, mining, and essential healthcare, as well as bringing loved ones together.

“When Brisbane Airport is busy, Queensland is thriving. BNE is Australia’s most connected domestic airport, with connections to 62 destinations, half of them in Queensland.

“Brisbane Airport is also the hub of Queensland’s air freight network, which is essential for the time-critical delivery of goods to people and businesses across the state, including medical supplies, fresh produce and exports.

“Every flight through our airport helps bring people, investment, and opportunity to all corners of the state.”

Rockhampton’s $12 billion project pipeline meets events ambition

Rockhampton is riding dual momentum. Celebrating 150 years since its first gold discovery, the region commands a $12 billion resources project pipeline over the next four years, while building a year-round major cultural events calendar that includes Rockynats, Triple M Rocks The Western, and the Rockhampton River Festival.

Meanwhile, Advance Rockhampton's 2026 Business & Industry Events Calendar spans small business, manufacturing, defence, agriculture, mining and construction, creating consistent corporate movement into the region.

Townsville diversifies beyond defence and minerals

Once defined almost exclusively by minerals and defence, Townsville is diversifying into clean energy, tourism, higher education, health and logistics, backed by more than $13.6 billion in public and private investment.

Connectivity has kept pace, with roughly 22 daily flights between Townsville and Brisbane (156 per week), enabling same-day business travel. Virgin Australia up-gauged its Brisbane–Townsville route from November 2025 with Boeing 737 aircraft, adding approximately 6,000 extra seats per month.

On land, major projects including the Townsville City Deal, Haughton Pipeline Stage Two and the Lansdown industrial precinct are driving corporate site visits, while new hospitality infrastructure like IHG’s Holiday Inn (opening early 2026) is building the city's meetings and events capacity.

The Destination 2045 Strategy's $2 billion regional events pipeline aims to spread tourism and business benefits beyond Brisbane and the Gold Coast. With Brisbane 2032 approaching, corporate Australia is already adjusting its travel patterns to match.