Cleared for take-off Feds OK airport hotel and conference centre
THE GOLD Coast Airport has a green light to start building a $50 million on-site hotel and conference centre – and its CEO says a second one is already being discussed.
The Federal Government has approved a seven-storey Rydges-branded project, which features 192 rooms and suites plus a stunning rooftop bar and viewing deck.
Queenland Airports Ltd CEO Chris Mills said no other airport hotel matched it: “There is nowhere else where you can look over the beachfront in one direction and over the runway in the other from the airport bar.
“We don’t want people to look at the hotel as just an airport hotel. We want people to say ‘Let’s go eat, drink and see views that are the best’. This will be the best airport hotel in Australia.”
Construction would start later this year and it was expected to be ready for opening late in 2019.
Mr Mills said he was not anticipating demand would be a problem. “We have the developer asking us when can we do a second hotel. We’ve said ‘let’s get the first one open and then we can talk about what else we need in the precinct’.”
The airport masterplan caters for a second hotel.
“In future, if this one goes as well as we think it will then we can move on a second.”
Developer Trepang, associated with John Robinson and Nick Paspaley, has delivered hotels in Darwin, including two airport hotels.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack, who approved the plan, said it would boost people doing business in the airport precinct and attract investment into the economy.
Gold Coast Federal Minister Steven Ciobo said: “The Gold Coast has a huge opportunity to secure more corporate travellers because we know they spend more, which is this why this hotel is great news.”