A new hotel with 180 guest rooms could be operating by 2028 after Sunshine Coast Council gave the green light for the project.
The construction of the $150 million Crowne Plaza on Ocean Street in Maroochydore will commence in April following the approval of a development application last week.
The hotel will include 180 guest rooms alongside more than 900sqm of meeting and event space, including a 600sqm ballroom.
Part of the development will be the AER Residence, which will feature 24 two- and three-bedroom apartments over four floors atop the hotel.
Hotel facilities will include a 30-metre pool and spa, gym, sauna and secure basement parking across two levels.
It will also include an all-day restaurant and 160-seat signature dining venue, as well as an outdoor pool bar and lounge alongside a lobby bar.
Mayor Rosanna Natoli said Crowne Plaza would be an important addition to the region’s tourism and business sector.
“This is the second hotel to be approved under the Sunshine Coast Council’s Accommodation Hotel Incentive Measures, and it reaffirms our commitment to address a major shortfall in hotel rooms,” she said.
“The Sunshine Coast requires more than 2400 additional hotel rooms, or around 10 new hotels, to support our tourism industry into the future.
“Council took a bold step to create incentives, and it is having an impact. Crowne Plaza ticks every box in terms of providing important tourism infrastructure to boost our region’s appeal as a year-round destination and we look forward to construction commencing in April next year.”
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Felix Capital director Michael Maroun praised the council for its support during the approval process in ensuring there were no delays.
“This is an incredible announcement for Maroochydore and the Sunshine Coast. Crowne Plaza will provide much-needed leisure and business tourism accommodation as well as community entertainment facilities for the region when it opens in 2028,” he said.
“These apartments have been designed by multi-award-winning architectural and interior design firm DBI and each unit is designed to include a seamless layout with sizes varying from 110sqm to 280sqm.
“We have engaged Niall Molloy from Ray White Maroochydore as our apartment sales agent on this project. Niall and his team have already fielded some inquiry following the development application announcement in August this year and we expect that will continue as we ramp up the marketing campaign.”
The site was previously earmarked for voco Maroochydore, which was pitched by Felix Capital and Crowne Plaza owner IHG Hotels and Resorts in 2024.
The Maroochydore project marks the second collaboration between IHG and Felix Capital, after the Holiday Inn and Suites Caloundra, which is due to open in 2030 and was the first hotel approved under the council’s incentives package.
Apartments in the AER Residence will start from $1.85 million.
