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1 November, 2024

Marriot International tipped to manage new Caloundra waterfront hotel

Edited by Travel Weekly

Plans for a 27-metre-high boutique resort complex were revealed for a site in Caloundra, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, with interest reported from Marriot International to manage the hotel.

Project Urban has lodged a development application with the Sunshine Coast Council on behalf of 5IVE Co to build a resort complex on the 635sqm site at 31 Esplanade Bulcock Beach, Caloundra.

The site is currently occupied by a two-storey dwelling, which sits between the existing Rumba Resort and Cerculean Apartments and is located in a tourist accommodation zone.

Planned Caloundra boutique hotel.

Application documents show a boutique hotel overlooking the water, featuring 77 rooms, a rooftop reception and communal area, plus ground-level cafe. The documents include a letter of interest from Marriott International to operate a first-class hotel with a 25-year agreement. It also expresses interest in a second hotel offering in Mooloolaba that will provide between 75 and 150 rooms.

In a letter of interest to 5IVE Co, Marriott International’s vice president for hotel development in Australia, Richard Crawford, outlined the company’s intentions.

“We confirm our desire to engage in commercial negotiations,” he said, adding the hotel presented a “rare and compelling” opportunity to bring the brand to the region and address a “well-known deficiency in high-quality modern visitor accommodation”.

“Marriott International is the world’s largest hotel company, with 9000 properties, 30-plus brands and 800,000 people across 141 countries,” Crawford added.

“This scale delivers unrivalled opportunities for the hotel investment community and Australia’s Sunshine Coast is a priority market in the context of Marriott’s assertive expansion plans in the Asia Pacific region.”

The development would also address council’s recent Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) proposal in response to the need for four- and five-star full-service hotels in the region.

The applicant, 5IVE Co, is seeking a material change of use for a resort complex for the site, which is located within the Caloundra Local Plan Area and the Tourist Accommodation Zone.

A development planning report, prepared by Project Urban on behalf of 5IVE Co, stated the hotel was to deliver much-needed accommodation to the “highest architectural standards”.

The report detailed: “The accommodation hotel will assist with satisfying part of the recognised need for hotel accommodation and is entirely consistent with council’s broader Accommodation Hotel Incentives Strategic Policy.

“The applicant intends that this site is developed to the highest architectural standards, using best-practice approaches in providing an innovative building which is in touch with the essence of Caloundra and its sophisticated beach atmosphere.”

The hotel includes single-room “suites” across seven levels, plus two levels of basement car parking. The hotel’s rooftop features a reception area, a pool, and outdoor seating.

Caloundra Marriott rooftop pool overlooking the water.

The report continued: “The rooftop will have unobstructed view lines and vistas over Bulcock Beach and the passage. “The design is architecturally striking in respect of its form, external material palette and colours.

“External materials and colours draw inspiration from the rocky headlands of Caloundra Headland.”

As the development exceeds a 15m height limit, it requires an impact assessable application and public notification period.

However, the applicant outlined the hotel would be consistent with nearby sites and the draft TLPI.

“The proposal is a medium-rise building and the development is consistent with the range of building heights adjoining and near the site,” it said.

“The draft TLPI provides building height incentives of up to 12m for an accommodation hotel which includes an accommodation hotel rooftop use.

“The proposed development is 27m high and generally complies with the overall cumulative building height incentives identified in the draft TLPI.”

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5IVE Hotel Caloundra Marriot International