Drug dealers using hotels to avoid police

Drug dealers have revealed to 9NEWS how they use hotels to avoid being busted by police.

Undercover investigations have shown inner-city hotels in Brisbane and the Gold Coast are becoming a one-stop shop for dealers.

One dealer told 9NEWS they ran their operations from rented rooms, with their narcotics at the hotel.

To combat the problem, many hotels are teaming up with police and criminologists to recognise signs dealers are using their venues.

Hotels working with police are noticing significant differences, halving the numbers of drug dealers booking a room.

However, the challenge of catching those dealers who move their trade elsewhere, remains.

Criminologist Lorraine Mezzarolle said the "anonymity" offered by hotel rooms was attractive to dealers.