Australia’s largest Quest apartment hotel set for NewQuay
NewQuay will soon welcome a new apartment hotel, cementing the Docklands as a popular destination for leisure and businesses travellers.
Leading Melbourne developer MAB Corporation will develop a 221-unit property for Ascott Limited and the Qatari Investment Authority, which will be leased by Australia’s largest serviced apartment operators, Quest Apartment Hotels.
Quest is the latest hotelier to announce a move into NewQuay and will join the soon to be completed Four Points by Sheraton.
Quest NewQuay is due to commence construction early next year and open in 2019. It will be the largest hotel in the Quest network, and will offer studios, one and two bedroom apartments as well as facilities such as conference rooms, business lounge, a gymnasium and an outdoor terrace with barbeque area.
MAB Corporation COO David Hall said the harbour is fast becoming a “go-to” destination for corporate travellers.
“We’ve been working in the Docklands for nearly 20 years, revitalising the waterfront with award-winning residential apartments, retail, introducing much needed public parks and shaping a 24-hour city.
“This transformation has drawn major Australian businesses like ANZ Bank, National Australia Bank and Myer into the area, and with the CBD and Etihad Stadium in walking distance, demand for accommodation facilities in NewQuay has been overwhelming,” said Mr Hall.
According to Mr Hall, the new and upcoming hotels will bring over 600 guests to NewQuay every night, adding to the day-to-day vitality of the Docklands and providing a further boost to the local economy.
“The budding hotel industry in NewQuay complements MAB Corporation’s residential and commercial development in the area, and is helping us achieve our vision of creating a vibrant mixed-use precinct where people can live, play, work and stay.”
Mr Paul Constantinou, Chairman of Quest Apartment Hotels, added: “Demand for accommodation in Australia from both international and domestic corporate customers remains strong but the supply of new accommodation has been lacking.
“Melbourne’s accommodation sector has been getting high occupancies of above 80%, driven by its strong events calendar, growing convention market and business activities,” he said.
“Ascott’s investment will not only enable us to accelerate Quest’s growth to cater to the demand in Australia, our tie-up with Ascott also provides a solid platform for us to take the Quest brand overseas.”
Mr Hall concluded: “An investment like this by some of the industry’s major players is yet another demonstration of business confidence in the future of NewQuay, and the Docklands.”