A hotel for Gold Coast airport
Things are now happening on the Gold Coast where Australia’s sixth biggest airport is trying to get its first hotel with more and more people travelling to the region.
As part of its expansion plans, Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd plans to grant long-term sub-lease to a third party which would develop, own and operate the hotel.
JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group executive vice president Peter Harper is talking about a hotel with 150 guest rooms and appropriate front-of-house facilities servicing hotel guests, visitors to the airport and the wider business community.
"Airport hotels are widely considered to be a very successful segment of the Australian hotel investment market, as witnessed by several recent hotel developments and a number of new projects at Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra airports," Mr Harper told the Australian Financial Review.
"Increased airline connectivity of Gold Coast Airport to key international markets including direct flights to China, the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and the relatively low Australian dollar will further drive performance and interest in the region."
The timing would be perfect with the 2018 Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held on the Gold Coast. The number of people coming into the area is expected to boom with organisers there doing all they can to convince athletics superstar Usain Bolt to extend his career to attend their event.
Although 29 year old Bolt says he plans to retire following the 2017 world championships in London, Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) chairman Peter Beattie is talking to the media about luring the Jamaican to change his plans.
And certainly if that were to happen, the airport would definitely need a hotel.
In addition to that, tourism in the area is booming. International air traffic to the Gold Coast increased 24 per cent in the second half of fiscal 2016.
That’s up from 13 per cent in the first half.
by Leon Gettler, 24th August 2016
