Australia Update

SYDNEY — Australia is abuzz with activity as a number of new hotels and services have either debuted or are on the books.

In New South Wales, for example, Best Western Hotels and Resorts has opened its latest property, The Best Western Haven Glebe, in Sydney’s inner west. The four-star boutique hotel has completed a $2.5 million AUD refurbishment to its 56 guestrooms and retail frontage.

Architecture firm Woods, Bagot has designed a 22-storey hotel for 757-763 George Street, in Sydney’s inner city. The firm has submitted a Stage 1 Development Application with the City of Sydney for the 207-room hotel that would rise above the heritage-listed Sutton Forest Meat building. The $39 million AUD project includes a pool, landscaped area and a nine-level green wall, located at the building’s rear. No hotel chains or brands have yet been associated with the project.

Byron Bay has officially welcomed beachfront resort Elements of Byron to its accommodation offering. The resort is the latest addition to Accor’s McGallery Collection and features 94 villas, with another 96 villas, plus conference and event spaces, to be built in stage two of the development.

This year, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Resort welcomes an addition to its lineup, with a 10-seat Piper Chieftain aircraft offering charter flights to business event guests. The property is also redeveloping its villa-style accommodation, increasing the resort’s inventory from 316 to 414 rooms and villas.

In Queensland, Qantas is now flying to the Sunshine Coast. With more than 68,000 seats now available, a new two-class QantasLink 110-seat Boeing 717 service will connect the Sunshine Coast to Sydney, increasing the area’s access as a hub for business events.

In other news, the Hilton Brisbane will spend $4 million AUD to refresh its conference and event facilities, wiht a complete redesign of the hotel’s fifth level, as well as the breakout spaces and meeting rooms on level eight.

Brookfield Multiplex has been selected to build the $1 billion AUD luxury development on the Gold Coast, by Chinese developers Wanda Ridong Group, which will include a 171 all-suite ‘six star’ hotel, will be Australia’s largest beachfront mixed-use development and the first absolute beachfront development on the Gold Coast in more than 30 years.