Suburban pubs in Brisbane are being encouraged to bring back old-school overnight accommodation.
The council initiative is part of a push to increase short-stay rooms ahead of the 2032 Olympics.
Planning regulations will be changed to make it easier for pub owners to build new hotel rooms and conference facilities.
The Regatta Hotel in Toowong could be a prime candidate for accommodation.
“We’re going back to the future,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner told the council chamber on Tuesday afternoon.
“There was a time when every local pub was also a place to stay.
“These can be built much faster and much more affordably than the tall inner-city buildings … so we’ll be encouraging the industry to step up.”
Brisbane had about 21,000 hotel rooms in 2023, with thousands built since then.
Redeveloping 20 suburban pubs could increase that number by about 1600, according to the lord mayor’s office.
Some councillors questioned the announcement, and independent Nicole Johnston said it could cause major challenges.
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