Brisbane’s hospitality sector is playing a starring role in the city’s economic transformation, helping drive the Queensland capital’s economy past the $200 billion mark for the first time, according to a new report released by Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA).
The 2025 State of the City Report, compiled with Deloitte Access Economics, reveals Brisbane’s “thriving restaurant scene” and broader experience economy have become key magnets for talent, investment and ideas as the city prepares for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Brisbane’s economy surged to $201 billion in 2024, representing a $28 billion increase since 2020 and 16% growth over just four years. The hospitality and tourism sectors have been central to this expansion, benefiting from Australia’s fastest-growing working-age population and unprecedented investment in infrastructure.
“Our experience economy is booming as people are coming here to dine, explore, play, and be part of world-class events, and that’s creating jobs and opportunities right across our city,” said Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.
The dining and hospitality scene has evolved alongside Brisbane’s broader cultural transformation, contributing to employment growth of 274,000 jobs since 2020 – a 22% increase that has particularly boosted tourism-related sectors.
Anthony Ryan, CEO of Brisbane Economic Development Agency, emphasised the restaurant industry’s role in positioning Brisbane as a lifestyle destination: “Our thriving restaurant scene, blockbuster events and growing tourism industry have also made Brisbane’s experience economy a magnet for talent, investment and ideas.
“The hospitality boom is being supported by more than $11 billion in experience economy infrastructure investment, including new entertainment venues, sporting facilities, and tourism attractions like the Mt Coot-tha Masterplan. This infrastructure spending is creating what officials describe as “unforgettable experiences for residents and visitors alike.”
The restaurant and hospitality sector’s growth comes as Brisbane undergoes what the report calls a “historic infrastructure transformation,” with a pipeline of major projects now exceeding $100 billion. This investment wave spans lifestyle, transport, housing and entertainment initiatives that are reshaping the city’s dining and entertainment landscape.
Looking ahead, the report forecasts strong growth across Brisbane’s economy over the next decade, with the city’s total economic output projected to reach $275 billion by 2041. South East Queensland is expected to have a population of six million by 2046, providing an expanding customer base for the region’s restaurants and hospitality venues.
“Brisbane is a city where lifestyle and opportunity go hand in hand, and we’re only just getting started,” Ryan said, suggesting the hospitality sector’s contribution to the city’s economic success story is set to continue growing.
The findings position Brisbane’s restaurant and dining scene not just as a lifestyle amenity, but as a crucial economic driver helping establish the city as what officials call “the growth stock of Australia and the Asia Pacific.”
