A New York woman has sparked a heated online debate after a viral video told friends to stop asking to stay at her apartment for free. Bridget Goes, 25, said guests should book a hotel or hostel instead, arguing that visitors who cannot afford New York should travel home or skip the concert. Many viewers agreed, while others said friends should always be welcome to stay. Financial experts from Ally Financial say social spending is pressuring young adults' savings, and advise friends to be open about their budgets.
John Singleton's new 20-suite luxury retreat, The Grand Saddles Lodge, will be officially opened on November 2. The venue sits in an 11-hectare bushland setting at Mount White on the Central Coast.
Bookings are now open for the new Lodge at Binna Burra in the Scenic Rim, seven years after bushfires destroyed its historic mountain lodge. The lodge is due to welcome its first overnight guests on Friday, 13 November 2026. Binna Burra sits within Lamington National Park and has faced several disruptions, including COVID-19 shutdowns and Cyclone Alfred in early 2025. The Queensland Government's Regional Tourism Recovery Program has supported the project. Guests can also book existing accommodation, including Sky Lodges, Tiny Wild Houses and safari tents.
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Construction has begun on a 97-room, three-storey hotel near Bundaberg Airport, the first major short-term accommodation development in the city in 20 years. Mayor Helen Blackburn said a hotel demand study found the region was 800 beds short each night. MyState Limited is funding the project, which is expected to create about 50 ongoing jobs. Construction is due to finish by mid-2027, with the first guests expected later next year.
Our House in Lismore cannot meet about one in four requests for accommodation from patients travelling for treatment. The charity plans Our House 2, which would add 30 units near Lismore Base Hospital. A Development Application is about to go to Lismore City Council. The facility now welcomes more than 1,500 guests a year, up from around 1,000. Guests come from across the Northern Rivers and beyond. Our House also offers free meals and staff help with travel assistance.
Residents of Darwin's largest short-stay accommodation facility, the Yilli Short-Stay Accommodation (YiSSA) in Marrara, have protested its closure. The Northern Territory government is moving up to 120 people to a new facility in Batchelor, a town of around 500 people. Residents say they feel dehumanised and worry about access to healthcare and schooling. Some are unsure where they will stay, and one resident says she cannot afford alternative accommodation. The government says the new facility offers food, care and a warm bed.
Six businesses, events and visitor services from the Riverina, South West Slopes, Snowy Valleys and Murray region have reached the finals of the 2026 NSW Tourism Awards. Winners will be announced at ICC Sydney on Monday 9 November. The finalists include a converted grain silo near Junee, an off-grid retreat near Tumut, a former railway station visitor centre in Young, an egg-themed shop in Holbrook, a ute festival in Deniliquin and a holiday park near Mathoura. The awards drew 210 nominations across 30 categories and were judged by a panel of 50, with visitor reviews also counted.
Brady Hotel Elizabeth St has officially opened in Melbourne's central business district. The 31-storey hotel has 211 rooms and has welcomed guests since August 1. Guests enter from a laneway beneath a 40-metre mural by local artist Kitt Bennett, then check in at a glass-domed sky lobby on Level 8. Robert Moore, general manager of hotels for Brady Group, said about 90 per cent of rooms have a view. The hotel is the sixth in the Melbourne-owned group's portfolio.
