Groovin into Bunbury

Bunbury accommodation providers were busy handing dozens of enquiries on Monday within minutes of the Groovin the Moo festival line up being announced.

GTM have scored themselves some diverse artists include Gang of Youths, The Veronicas and a stack of local legends like Tones and I, Dope Lemon and The Cat Empire to name a few.

Usually coinciding with the Mothers Day weekend, the annual music festival has had a day and date change this year to Sunday, April 26, resulting in accommodation providers booking out earlier than usual.

Quality Hotel Lighthouse General Manager Christina Mitchell said the hotel phone had been ringing non-stop since the line-up announcement on Monday.

“As soon as that line up was announced we had calls constantly coming through and are now fully booked for that weekend,” she said.

“This is a great event for Bunbury that brings visitors from all around the place and we need more events like this.

“We love having events and bringing people down to see what Bunbury is all about.”

Bunbury Glade Caravan Park XXX

Discovery Parks Bunbury Foreshore brand and campaign manager Emily Bennett said the park has experienced quite the increase in interest for accommodation for the April long weekend.

“Since the announcement of this year’s line-up we have had a large amount of interest in accommodation,” Ms Bennett said.

“There are still a few spots available but they are being picked up quite quickly.”

Tourism Marketing and Development Manager for Bunbury Geographe, Anissa Williams dubbed the festival’s economic benefit on the region as ‘enormous’.

“During GTM 2019, direct spending in Bunbury increased by more than $500,000,” she said.

“As a national event, in additional to visitors, GTM generates valuable PR for Bunbury across Australia amongst our core target audience - millennials.”

Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said the direct and indirect benefits from such a big number of visitors to the City are significant.

“The City in conjunction with Cattleyard Promotions last year secured the iconic Groovin the Moo concert for a five-year term and this was a big win for Bunbury,” Mr Brennan said.

“The flow-on benefits are substantial, with visitors utilising many of the City’s accommodation providers, cafes and restaurants and other retailers and shops.

“Many visitors choose to stay on for an extra night or two as well and this, along with people talking about Bunbury before and after the concert, means the benefits are ongoing.”

GTM festival spokeswoman said the festival is all about connection.

“In addition to the line up, GTM is all about good ol' country hospitality, inclusiveness and connection,” she said.

“Connection with artists, with the community, with your mates and with the region itself.

“The ‘road trip with your mates’ element attracts a lot of people from other areas to Bunbury and GTM strives to engage local members of the community and local groups and businesses so there's an organically local foundation to the event.”