MACKAY'S newest hotel already means big business, as rooms fill up by the minute.

The region's second Oaks Hotels and Resorts - Oaks Carlyle - has officially opened, and manager Adam Metcalfe said he's "surprised" and "quite taken aback" to see room bookings skyrocket.

He moved to Mackay after surpervising the already "pumping" Oaks hotel in Townsville and spending the past four years in the accommodation industry.

"I was a supervisor (in Townsville) and then they asked me to manage this hotel," he said. "My jaw dropped."

"I've only been here since the end of March, and when we first started it was quite quiet, but it's really picked up.

"This week, we're already sitting at 80 to 90% for tonight and last night. We've almost reached 100% occupancy on one or two nights last week as well."

And, that's out of the 86 "key rooms" available.

Mr Metcalfe believes unexpected bookings increases were due to the hotel's position, eye-catching interior and friendly staff.

He hopes the hotel will secure 20 additional permanent residents by the end of the week.

"You generally go into a hotel or another service industry and people will say the same thing over and over again," he said.

"We're actually quite lucky with the staff we have, as they don't take this job as a right, they take it as a privilege."

Last week, Oaks Hotels and Resorts officially launched the opening and service of its 51st property, Oaks Carlyle.

Acoustics played, beer and wine flowed and Mr Metcalfe said it was an exciting milestone for the company.

"It was a really good mix of people, it was a really good networking opportunity and I think everyone enjoyed the night," he said.

"I was pretty excited when I was asked to manage this hotel and be a part of it; you have to take a step back and let it sink in."

Mr Metcalfe said his goal over the next 12 months was to attract as many people he could to stay at Oaks Carlyle.

"Once they have the service they have, they will be hooked," he said.

"I want us to have a monopoly, and to eventually own this space in Mackay. I think we have a good presence in the market already."