Damien Little
Director, Melbourne, Australia
Damien Little is Director with Horwath HTL in Melbourne and has 22 years of consulting experience with significant experience in financial modelling.
About
Damien Little is a Director with Horwath HTL in Melbourne, bringing 22 years of consulting experience and a strong background in financial modelling. His extensive expertise spans a wide range of hospitality projects, having completed over 400 assignments across 17 countries in the Asia Pacific region.
Damien’s experience covers all segments of the hospitality industry, including 5-star city hotels, luxury island resorts, golf resort properties, mid-scale regional hotels, budget hotels, backpacker accommodation, restaurants, and clubs. His ability to work across diverse property types and markets reflects his versatility and comprehensive understanding of the sector.
Before joining Horwath HTL in Australia, Damien spent 17 years with Horwath HTL’s Asia Pacific practice, working in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Beijing. This international exposure provided him with deep insights into regional market dynamics and the complexities of operating in different cultural and economic environments. Upon returning to Australia, Damien assumed the role of Director and established Horwath HTL’s presence in Melbourne, further strengthening the firm’s reach and expertise in the region.
In addition to his consulting work, Damien is a recognised thought leader in the hospitality industry. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and regularly contributes research articles to regional publications, sharing insights on market trends, financial modelling, and strategic development.
Damien’s commitment to delivering tailored, data-driven solutions has made him a trusted advisor to hotel owners, operators, and investors. His leadership and expertise continue to drive Horwath HTL’s success in providing high-quality consulting services to the hospitality industry in Australia and beyond.
Experience
Bold steps forward
We help clients achieve extraordinary outcomes.
Proposed Acquisition of Holiday Inn West Perth
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Hotel Market Study for the Proposed Hotel in regional NSW
Hawkesbury River, New South Wales, Australia
Feasibility Study for Beachfront, Resort-Style Hotel
Tongatapu, Tonga
Market Study for Integrated Resort Complex in Fiji
Suva, Fiji
Solomon Islands Tourism Investment Promotion
Western Province, Solomon Islands
Expert Witness for Proposed Ecotourism Development
New South Wales, Australia
Expert Witness for Hotel Development Litigation
Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia
Eco Tourism Assessment For A Regional Resort
Southern Highlands, New South Wales, Australia
Expert insights
Cutting edge analysis.
Australia Key City Hotel Market Outlook, Sept 2023
Australia’s GDP growth for FY 2023-24 is forecasted to slow down to 1.2%, a significant drop from 3.3% in FY 2022-23. The unemployment rate is expected to rise to 4.1%, with the population projected to expand by 485,000 people and more than 235,000 individuals joining the labour force. Continued inflationary pressures and a volatile geopolitical environment pose challenges to tourism recovery, impacting travel intentions and cost of living.
Australia Key City Hotel Market Outlook, June 2023
As of June 2023, Australia’s GDP growth is forecasted to slow to 0.9% in FY 2023-24, down from 3.1% in FY 2022-23. The unemployment rate is expected to rise to an average of 4.1%, with the population expanding by 466,000 people and over 300,000 new labour force entrants. International tourist arrivals are steadily recovering, particularly from South Asia, Middle East/Africa, and Oceania. Northeast Asia is also showing recovery following the reopening of Chinese borders. International visitor numbers are expected to reach pre-pandemic levels by 2024.
Australia Key City Hotel Market Outlook, March 2023
The March 2023 edition of the Horwath HTL Quarterly Hotel Market Outlook provides an in-depth analysis of the Australian hotel market, including macroeconomic and tourism contexts, key trends in hotel performance, and detailed outlooks for various regions. This summary highlights the significant findings and trends outlined in the report.
Australia Key City Hotel Market Outlook, Sept 2022
Australia’s hotel market in Q3 2022 showed signs of recovery as international borders reopened in December 2021. The Australian business outlook forecasts growth in 2022-23 with an unemployment rate of 3.7% and an expected population increase of 321,000. However, the recovery faces challenges from geopolitical tensions, rising inflation, and interest rates.
Australia Key City Hotel Market Outlook
Australia’s economic outlook for 2022-23 is positive, driven by the reopening of international borders and a recovering labour market. The unemployment rate is projected to stabilize at 3.8%, with a population growth of 276,000 people. International tourism is expected to reach pre-pandemic levels by June 2024, contributing to the economic rebound.
Australia Key City Hotel Market Outlook
Australia’s economic recovery in early 2022 was more robust than anticipated, with the unemployment rate near a half-century low and export prices at record highs. However, the international tourism sector faces a slower recovery due to expensive travel costs, complex travel requirements, and the ongoing risk of new COVID-19 variants. Domestic tourism is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2022-23, surpassing them by 2023-24, though Victoria and other territories may experience delayed recoveries due to prolonged lockdowns.