Second hotel at airport planned
A BUILDER hasn’t been appointed for the first Gold Coast Airport Hotel, but its developer John “Foxy” Robinson is already planning a second hotel at the Coolangatta precinct.
Mr Robinson, a straighttalking Northern Territorian and veteran hotel developer, is partnering in the current 200-room hotel, set to cost between $40 and $50 million, with pearling magnate Nicholas Paspaley.
It will operate under the Rydges brand, featuring a restaurant, pool and rooftop bar.
Once the terminal expansion is completed, it will also offer guests a sheltered 75m walk from the hotel foyer to the airline check-in counters.
Public consultation on the development opened last week and continues until May.
Mr Robinson, a father of four and grandfather of 10, splits his time between his Darwin home and the Broadbeach penthouse he has owned for eight years.
“I’d say within three years, if not before, the airport will need another hotel ... that’s why I’ve got the rights to build the next hotel,” he said.
“I think it could handle at least another 150 rooms.”
Mr Robinson is behind two airport hotels in Darwin, has luxury hotels in Broome and Kununurra, has interests in coal mining, and built and operated the Territory’s Wickham Point immigration detention centre.
He said the Gold Coast had “turned a corner” and he expected the Coolangatta hotel to be his most successful to date.
“Coolangatta has got the numbers, the location – they tell me in 2019 there’s going to be 8 million people going through that terminal,” he said.
“You’d build a hotel there with your eyes closed.
“I was asked what market research I’d done on it – I haven’t done any. I just know that with 8 million people going through your front door, some are going to stick.
“You’ve got more airlines flying out of there, a huge expansion happening – location is what hotels are all about and that is located 100 per cent in the right spot. I think they’ve done a fantastic job.”
Mr Robinson, who literally grew up in the back of Bourke, was nicknamed Foxy as he was the only redhead among the eight siblings in his family.
He said a builder was likely to be appointed soon and the hotel plans were progressing quickly.
“We’re settling in pretty well on the Gold Coast, setting an office up and getting a team together.
“I’ve got the key people I need: a manager, chef, laundry operator – we put our own laundries in – head housemaid, office manager and maintenance guy.
“You need six key people and I’ve got them.”