Australian Open organisers hail ‘phenomenal bounceback’

Crowds at the Australian Open could eclipse the record of 800,000 set in 2020, organisers say, with 90 per cent of “premium” entertainment packages sold and Marriott hotels in the Melbourne CBD nearly fully booked for the finals weekend on January 28 and 29.

The two-week tournament starts on Monday and demand for corporate hospitality and other high-end packages is up 6 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, said Fern Barrett, Tennis Australia’s head of food, premium experiences and precincts.