If you are planning a weekend getaway, tourism operators say there is one thing you can do to help them recover from the global pandemic.
The owner of the Granite Belt Motel, Michael Jensen, has urged travellers to contact accommodation providers directly to get the best deal.
"In the last 48 hours, 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the bookings have been coming from online companies," he said.
"Accommodation owners are paying anything from 12 to 24 per cent commission to the online companies that are based overseas, and they're not experiencing the difficulties that we have.
"Sometimes we're able to do a little bit better to try and win the business, [because] we're not having to actually pay commission to these companies that dominate."
Traumatic times for tourism
Mr Jensen said his motel experienced "mass cancellations" through its busiest period as the coronavirus crisis unfolded.
He said it had been a "traumatic" time for everybody in the tourism industry.
"We probably had in excess of 300 to 400 cancellations in a matter of 48 hours when the virus first started," Mr Jensen said.
Mr Jensen said he expected a "significant" increase in business this weekend, with statewide travel now allowed in Queensland.
But he said some of those profits would be eaten up by online booking companies.
"I'd really like the Government to encourage the people who are listening to their broadcasts and their announcements to try and book with mum-and-dad operators," Mr Jensen said.
"Sometimes we can give recommendations to them of all the things that they can do in the district."
Mr Jensen has also urged the Government to book directly with small businesses when organising accommodation for departmental staff.
