Hospitality industry revenue in Australia and New Zealand has been forecast to surge by 20% in 2025.

Bookings and table management platform ResDiary says its data reveals that the tables are turning and 76% of owners and operators expect to achieve more revenue in 2025 and, of those expecting an increase, the average expected rise is 20%.

The findings highlight a significant rise in both dining demand and venue openings as key drivers behind the industry’s projected growth as detailed in ResDiary’s Beyond the Booking: Australia and New Zealand Hospitality Industry Report 2025.

According to ResDiary one in four diners (27%) planning to dine out more in 2025 than they did in 2024. The data also reveals a growing sense of confidence among venue owners, 26% opened a venue in 2024 versus 46% are considering opening a venue in 2025. But it isn’t all good news, no-shows continue to be a headache for 54% of businesses, equating an estimated $80 million lost in 2024 in venues across Australia and New Zealand.

The Access Group (parent company of ResDiary in ANZ) General Manager of Hospitality Asia Pacific Louise Daley said: “Between food prices, labour costs, increased rents and rates, alongside cost of living pressures, hospitality venues have been suffering for years. Our industry is resilient, and it’s great to see the optimism and  the ‘tables starting to turn’ in their favour.”

However, there are still challenges to be faced according to ResDiary, with no-shows continuing to be a major headache for the hospitality industry.

Over half of respondents (54%) were impacted by no-shows in 2024, and of those affected businesses, it’s estimated no-shows cost a staggering$4,076 per venue. This equates to a staggering $80 million estimated loss across the ANZ hospitality industry in 2024.

Reducing no-shows is critical to unlock revenue growth. ResDiary recommends implementing deposits for group bookings over a certain size, setting up automatic email reminders and making it easy for diners to amend or cancel bookings. Using these simple methods will help overcome the impact of no-show on revenue. 

Lunch comes out on top

ResDiary’s data shows that lunch is the most common meal out for diners, with 65% dining out for lunch at least once a month.

With lunch becoming increasingly popular, ResDiary notes that it’s important for venues to invest in elevating their lunch offerings to capitalise on this trend.

“Creating a well-curated lunch menu or offering special promotions during lunchtime can help boost daytime traffic and increase overall revenue,” the platform advised.

Diners also expect a smooth and seamless booking process. In 2024, 38% of customers preferred to make reservations directly through a restaurant’s website with 21% of diners prioritising a different restaurant if they couldn’t book online, and 14% would disregard the restaurant altogether.

Australians opt to eat & drink earlier