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Managing the Rising Costs of Crew Housing & Lodging in Regional Australia

Oct 28, 2025

Housing shortages are driving up crew lodging costs across regional Australia. LodgeLink helps companies stay ahead with one platform for booking, invoicing, and managing crew stays.

Regional Australia is running short on housing. Queensland alone is expected to be short more than 96,000 homes by 2029, and regional towns are feeling the squeeze the most. At the same time, more Australians are moving to these same areas for work and lifestyle, with migration from cities to regional towns up 17 percent compared to before the pandemic.

These trends are making it even tougher for companies to find places for their travelling crews. For mining, construction, and utilities projects, this often means higher costs, fewer options, and complicated bookings spread across multiple hotels, motels, and temporary camps.

That’s why having a platform that simplifies booking, keeps crews close to job sites, and gives managers clear visibility is so valuable.

With access to thousands of vetted, crew-ready properties across Australia, LodgeLink makes it easier to find the right accommodation quickly, whether you need short-term stays, extended lodging, or specialized workforce camps.

And with additional tools to help teams stay productive and on schedule, LodgeLink takes the stress out of workforce travel.

3D illustration of the LodgeLink booking platform with a large map pin and accommodation listings.

For Project Teams: Simplify Operations

With housing in regional towns tight and options limited, arranging accommodation for crews can feel like a second job. Last-minute changes, assigning rooms, and checking in dozens of workers across multiple hotels or camps can pull attention away from running the site.

With LodgeLink, you can:

Book and manage stays in real-time to keep crews close to job sites
Assign crews to rooms efficiently using crew lists and group booking tools
Access flexible accommodations designed for extended stays, shared rooms, or truck parking

No matter the project size or location, LodgeLink helps crews stay comfortable, productive, and on schedule — even when housing options are scarce.

For Finance and Travel Managers: Take Control of Costs

With housing in regional Australia becoming harder to find and more expensive, keeping track of what you’re spending on crew accommodation isn’t getting any easier. When crews are spread across different hotels, motels, and camps, managing invoices and payments can take up more time than it should.

LodgeLink makes that easier with:

• Consolidated invoicing that turns thousands of bills into one monthly statement

• Built-in reporting so you can track spending by project, division, or location

• Payment IDs and tracking codes that make cost allocation simple and accurate

As lodging prices rise, it’s more important than ever to have a clear view of where the money’s going and to keep things simple.

For Travel Managers: Take the Pressure Off a Tight Housing Market

With housing shortages and limited short-term rentals across regional Australia, finding enough crew accommodation can feel like an uphill battle. LodgeLink helps travel managers stay ahead, saving time, cutting costs, and securing rooms when and where they’re needed most.

How LodgeLink helps counter Australia’s housing crunch:

Secure up to 100 rooms in one booking across multiple hotels, camps, or motels, perfect for large or fast-moving projects.
Use advanced filters and interactive maps to find available rooms near job sites. No more calling dozens of properties.
Save and rebook your preferred properties, so crews get reliable stays at familiar places.

LodgeLink takes the strain out of managing crew travel, so you can focus on running the project, not chasing down rooms.

Why LodgeLink Works for Australia’s Workforce

When accommodation is tight and costs keep climbing, LodgeLink helps Australian travel managers stay in control. From mining in the Pilbara to energy and infrastructure projects across Queensland and the NT, we make crew travel simpler, smarter, and more cost-efficient.

Here’s how LodgeLink helps you stay ahead:

Book at scale: Easily manage stays for crews of any size, even in regional and remote areas.
Reduce admin: Cut thousands of invoices down to just a few, saving hours of manual work.
Stay in the loop: Get real-time visibility on bookings, budgets, and crew movement.
Keep costs down: Gain insights and control to manage spend in a tightening accommodation market.