SUNSHINE COAST, Australia–(June 21, 2016)– Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced it has signed an agreement with Sekisui House Australia to plan and operate The Westin Coolum Resort & Spa in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Slated to open in 2021, the resort will be part of a proposed mixed use development featuring retail shops and boutiques, plus luxury apartments. Ideally located on pristine Yaroomba beach, The Westin Coolum Resort & Spa will be one of very few internationally branded beachfront resorts in Australia. Starwood will work closely with Sekisui House Australia throughout the planning and design processes for the hotel.
“We are really excited to partner with Sekisui House Australia to open The Westin Coolum Resort & Spa – Australia’s first resort property under the Westin Hotels & Resorts banner,” said Sean Hunt Vice President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Pacific. “The Westin brand is enjoying phenomenal growth both due to its innovative wellness offerings and lifestyle. By the time it welcomes its first guests, The Westin Coolum Resort & Spa will be the first new build five star hotel to open on the Sunshine Coast in 27 years, supporting tourism growth and providing significant employment opportunities to the community.”
“We’re honored to be working with Starwood Hotels & Resorts to bring the Westin brand and its unique approach to well-being to Australia’s Sunshine Coast,” said Toru Abe, CEO & Managing Director, Sekisui House Australia. “Our vision is to provide visitors to this popular family holiday destination with a relaxing, five-star wellness retreat and the Westin brand is an ideal fit for both the location and the development. We believe the Starwood Hotels & Resorts experience will be invaluable in arriving at a final plan for the hotel that respects the site and meets the Sunshine Coast council’s economic development needs; boosting tourism and awareness internationally for the region.”
Positioned less than 200 metres from the sea with direct access to the beach, The Westin Coolum Resort & Spa will boast 220 beautifully appointed guestrooms, including nine spacious suites, all featuring the renowned Westin Heavenly Bed®. Four inspiring dining venues, including an all-day dining restaurant and a specialty restaurant, will provide a variety of healthy culinary options, alongside the brand’s nutrient-rich and delicious SuperFoodsRx™ menus.
Guests will be able to relax at The Heavenly Spa by Westin™, which will offer six treatment rooms and an array of treatments dedicated to well-being, take a rejuvenating swim in the infinity edge swimming pool or exercise at the WestinWORKOUT® studio. Guests travelling with children will also be able to take advantage of the kids’ swimming pool and Westin® Kids Club. The resort will also feature 850 sqm of ultra-modern conference and event space, including pre-function areas, a large flexible ballroom, which can be divided into three, plus a chapel making it the perfect destination for large scale meetings and events, and weddings.
Located at pristine Yaroomba Beach on the Sunshine Coast, The Westin Coolum Resort & Spa is a five minute drive north of the Sunshine Coast Airport, which offers direct flights to and from Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland and has just received State government approval for the addition of a new international runway to be completed by 2020. Renowned for its surf beaches, thriving art and food scene, quality world class golf courses and stunning landscape, Coolum is a popular retreat for singles, couples, groups and families. Due to its central location in the Sunshine Coast, visitors can take advantage of nearby attractions including Noosa, which is 15km north of Coolum, the Big Pineapple and Australia Zoo.
“The Sunshine Coast accommodation market continues to get stronger and the timing of the Westin Coolum Resort & Spa is perfect given the growing visitor numbers and appeal of this destination, especially with the proposed expansion of the Sunshine Coast Airport, which continues to gather momentum,” said Andrew Taylor, Director of Acquisitions & Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Pacific. “It’s a great time to invest in the region and this is the perfect location for Westin’s first resort style property in Australia.”
The Westin Coolum Resort & Spa joins Starwood’s robust portfolio in the Pacific – 17 hotels in operation, including The Westin Sydney and The Westin Melbourne. The hotel marks 10 properties under development including: The Westin Brisbane, The Westin Perth, W Brisbane, Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Resort, Aloft Adelaide and Aloft Perth Rivervale.
For more information please visit www.westin.com.
