The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner has published its December 2025 Quarterly Data After Dark report.

The December report examines the performance of the NSW hotel market as a barometer of visitor demand and broader night-time economic conditions.

It also highlights seasonal economic activity during the 2025 holiday period, which experienced a softer uplift this year compared to the same period in 2024.

Key findings of the report include:

  • Hotel occupancy was above 70 per cent for most of the year and reached 80.2 per cent in the December 2025 quarter, its strongest performance for the year.
  • Hotel market performance exceeded pre-pandemic levels in the second half of the year, supported by sustained demand and major events including the NRL Grand Final and New Year’s Eve.
  • Greater Sydney saw broad growth in accommodation levels led by higher-end hotels, while regional NSW experienced softer conditions, with growth concentrated in more affordable options.
  • Weekly accommodation demand patterns differ structurally, with Sydney exhibiting both mid-week (corporate) and weekend (leisure) peaks, while regional markets remain predominantly weekend-led.
  • Night-time public transport recorded 38.2 million Opal tap-offs, down 3.8 per cent year-on-year but an increase of 6.9 per cent on the previous quarter.
  • People in NSW made 318 million night-time movement trips, a 4.8 per cent quarterly increase, though volumes remained 5.3 per cent lower than a year earlier.
  • Night-time in-person spending increased in nominal terms, noting inflation remains a persistent pressure.
  • In-person spending rose to $4.35 billion at night, which represents an increase of 0.2% year-on year and 17.9 per cent compared with the previous quarter, reflecting increased activity during the Black Friday and Christmas trading period.
  • The number of GST-active businesses in the food, drink and leisure sectors continued to decline, falling by 381 (down 0.8 per cent) from the previous quarter. Over the year, there was a net loss of 1039 businesses (down two per cent), indicating ongoing pressure across the sector.

Data After Dark is a pioneering platform offering insights into NSW’s night-time economy.

It tracks and analyses data from various sources, including Opal travel data and spending transactions, to track economic activity between 6pm and 6am, offering valuable insights into the state's evolving night-time economy.

Read the report here.