Brisbane hotel prices rise and fall with a handful of big fixtures: the Ekka in August, Riverfire and Brisbane Festival in September, and the tennis in January. Whether you’re comparing Brisbane hotel deals for a stay beside Queen Street Mall or hotel deals Brisbane offers on the river at South Bank, the lowest headline rate isn’t always the best value. Here’s how the price moves, where to stay, and what IHG, Marriott Bonvoy and Accor offer, each with a free loyalty program.
Where to Stay in Brisbane, and Which Hotel Groups Are There
Most visitors stay in the CBD, which wraps around Queen Street Mall, King George Square and a bend of the Brisbane River. South Bank across the river holds the cultural precinct, and the airport precinct has its own hotels. If you’re comparing Brisbane CBD hotel deals, it helps to know that the Airtrain connects the airport to the city centre in around 20 minutes, so a CBD hotel works well even if you arrive by air.
Here is where IHG, Marriott Bonvoy and Accor have hotels in Brisbane, by area:
| Area | IHG, Marriott and Accor hotels |
|---|---|
| CBD and Queen Street Mall | IHG: InterContinental Brisbane, Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre, voco Brisbane City Centre. Marriott: Brisbane Marriott Hotel, The Westin Brisbane, W Brisbane, Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane. Accor: Pullman Brisbane King George Square, Mercure Brisbane King George Square, Sofitel Brisbane Central, ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street. |
| South Bank | Accor: Novotel Brisbane South Bank. |
| Near the airport | Accor: Novotel Brisbane Airport, Pullman Brisbane Airport, ibis Brisbane Airport. |
If you’re hiring a car, our Brisbane car rental guide covers the toll roads and driving quirks, and our Brisbane airport parking guide covers parking if you’re driving to the airport.
When Brisbane Hotel Prices Are Highest
The Ekka. The Royal Queensland Show runs for just over a week each August at the Brisbane Showgrounds and draws crowds of around 400,000 people, which raises demand for rooms. Accor suggests staying in the city or near the airport, with frequent trains to the Showgrounds.
Riverfire and Brisbane Festival. Riverfire opens Brisbane Festival in early September, with fireworks fired from bridges, barges and rooftops, and the opening weekend is the busiest. Plan ahead for road and river closures.
The Brisbane International. The tennis opens the season each January at the Queensland Tennis Centre, at the start of the summer peak.
Stadium fixtures. Suncorp Stadium hosts NRL, including Magic Round when every club plays in one weekend, and The Gabba covers cricket and AFL. Book early for any stadium event, because the best stays fill up fast.
Summer from December to February is also a peak period. Test a few dates before you settle, since a day or two can move the price.
Last Minute Hotel Deals Brisbane: Worth the Gamble?
Some hotels do drop rates on unsold rooms close to the date, so last-minute searching has its fans. In Brisbane, Ekka, Riverfire weekend and stadium nights tighten availability fast, and the remaining rooms tend to be the expensive ones. Outside those dates there’s more to compare. Reserve a free-cancellation rate early, rebook if the price falls, and check the cancellation terms before you pay.
How to Find a Genuine Hotel Deal in Brisbane
- Check the event calendar first. Moving a stay a night or two away from Ekka or Riverfire weekend can matter more than any discount.
- Compare areas before prices. A CBD hotel, a South Bank hotel and an airport hotel are different products.
- Price the same room two ways. Check a booking site and the hotel’s own site, then add up member rates, points and what’s included, because the cheaper headline isn’t always the better value.
- Add up the transport. The Airtrain takes around 20 minutes from the terminal to the city centre, so a CBD hotel can work out better than a cheaper room far from a station.
- Keep an eye on the price. A refundable booking lets you rebook if the rate falls, so look again a few weeks out.
Book Direct With a Hotel Group
If you'd like to see member pricing, check the hotel groups directly. IHG, Marriott Bonvoy and Accor all have hotels in Brisbane, and each loyalty program is free to join.
IHG
Free to joinIHG One Rewards
Best for
A luxury stay beside Queen Street Mall, or a boutique Hotel Indigo
Member perks
- Member Rate when you book direct
- Reward Nights with no blackout dates
- Free Wi-Fi at IHG hotels
Marriott
Free to joinMarriott Bonvoy
Best for
Four hotels in the CBD, from W and Westin brands to a riverfront Marriott
Member perks
- Exclusive member rates
- Points toward free nights
- Free in-room Wi-Fi when you book direct
Accor
Free to joinALL (Accor Live Limitless)
Best for
King George Square, South Bank or the airport precinct, with a wide price range
Member perks
- The Members' Rate through eligible Accor channels
- Reward points on eligible stays
- Status points on eligible stays
Member rates and benefits change, so compare the direct price against booking sites before you decide. Affiliate Disclosure: The Champagne Mile may earn a commission via links on this page.
More Brisbane Travel Guides
- Car Rental in Brisbane
- Brisbane Airport Parking Guide
- Sydney Hotel Deals
- Melbourne Hotel Deals
- Perth Hotel Deals
- Compare all hotel deals
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Brisbane hotel prices cheapest?
Outside the busiest windows, which are the summer months from December to February, the Ekka in August, and Riverfire and Brisbane Festival in early September. Try a couple of alternative dates, since a day or two can change the rate.
Are last minute hotel deals in Brisbane worth it?
Occasionally, outside the Ekka, Riverfire weekend and major stadium events, when the remaining rooms tend to be expensive. Booking a refundable rate early and rebooking if the price falls is safer.
Which Brisbane hotels are part of IHG, Marriott and Accor?
IHG Brisbane hotels include InterContinental Brisbane, Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre and voco Brisbane City Centre. Marriott Brisbane hotels include Brisbane Marriott Hotel, The Westin Brisbane, W Brisbane and Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane. Accor Brisbane hotels include Pullman Brisbane King George Square, Mercure Brisbane King George Square, Sofitel Brisbane Central, ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street, Novotel Brisbane South Bank, Novotel Brisbane Airport, Pullman Brisbane Airport and ibis Brisbane Airport.
Is it cheaper to book direct or through a booking site?
It depends on the dates and the hotel. Direct bookings can include member rates and perks, and IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and ALL Accor cost nothing to join, so check the direct price against a booking site before you commit.
How do I get from Brisbane Airport to the city?
The Airtrain takes around 20 minutes from the terminal to the city centre. If you’d rather stay by the airport, Accor has Novotel Brisbane Airport, Pullman Brisbane Airport and ibis Brisbane Airport in the airport precinct.
When is the Ekka, and does it affect hotel prices?
The Royal Queensland Show runs for just over a week each August at the Brisbane Showgrounds and draws crowds of around 400,000 people, which raises demand for rooms. Book early, and consider staying in the city or near the airport, where trains run frequently to the Showgrounds.
Michael has been publishing deals and travel content for Australians for more than 10 years and runs the deals section of The Champagne Mile. With a Bachelor of Commerce and a background in commercial law, he reads the fine print so you don’t have to, from insurance PDSs to promo code terms. Every deal on the site is checked before it goes live and updated when offers change. When he’s not testing codes, he’s planning his next overseas trip or out on his dirt bike.
Last Updated on 25 October 2026
