JW Marriott’s brand debut reflects confidence in Gold Coast’s tourism market
Queensland’s Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa will undergo a A$35 million rebrand to transform into the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa – set for completion in December 2020.
The arrival in Australia of the JW Marriott brand on the Gold Coast was in response to an increasing demand for luxury accommodation and experiences.
"JW Marriott’s brand debut and the A$35 million investment reflects confidence in the Gold Coast’s buoyant tourism market and its ability to recover after having endured a time of significant disruption," says Sean Hunt, Area Vice President, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific at Marriott International.
"The Gold Coast has long needed a more elevated accommodation option to appeal to the high-spending travellers seeking luxurious stays in the area. This market has been under-serviced for some time, and we don’t see that demand diminishing," Hunt tells The CEO Magazine.
"The Gold Coast welcomed 13.1 million domestic visitors in 2019 (compared to 1.1 million international visitors) who spent A$4.6 billion during their time enjoying the region.
"With the resort traditionally occupied by an 80% domestic market, we’re confident that it will continue to perform well with interstate travel and a focus on local and drive market stayations," he explains. "The new brand will also increase our market share appealing to a new segment of traveller in addition to our current and regular guests."
Hunt also adds that the multinational hospitality business is well aware that travel and consumer needs will change post-COVID-19.
"We strongly believe there will still be a high demand for luxury accommodation and experiences on the other side," he notes. "Especially for brands like JW Marriott that put a strong focus on guest wellbeing, living in the present moment and sustainability."
Australian design studio, DBI, the original architects and interior designers behind the existing property, were engaged to redesign and elevate the property to JW Marriott’s luxury standards.
"There’s currently a significant shortage of high-end, luxury accommodation options and hotels in the area to cater to the increasing luxury segment demand." – Sean Hunt.
Featuring 223 rooms and suites, the hotel will reflect the beauty and relaxed atmosphere of coastal Queensland. The new guest rooms, offering a choice of ocean or hinterland views, also draw inspiration from the local landscape.
The property’s six food and beverage venues, including two main restaurants, lobby lounge and bar, pool bar, a new Japanese whisky bar and a signature JW Marketplace, will ensure guests have access to a variety of dining options.
Citrique, the resort’s main restaurant, will undergo an extensive refresh and reconfiguration to include a new interactive show kitchen.
Forming part of Citrique, JW Marketplace is the hotel’s cafe and in-house provedore, serving coffees, local produce and grab-and-go bites.
Misono, the resort’s teppanyaki restaurant, will expand to incorporate an ‘avenue’ of new Japanese dining experiences including an izakaya, tearoom and sushi bar.
A Japanese whisky bar with an outdoor terrace will be a new addition to the resort’s food and beverage offering.
Chapter & Verse will be transformed into an indoor-outdoor lounge and bar experience connecting the resort property with the external lagoons and swimming area.
Additionally, the resort will feature outdoor swimming pools, with a variety of depths and activations, including the saltwater lagoon containing over 300 tropical fish.
"There’s currently a significant shortage of high-end, luxury accommodation options and hotels in the area to cater to the increasing luxury segment demand," Hunt reveals.
"We’ve known for some time that a more luxurious option is needed and Marriott International’s JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa is perfectly positioned to step up to this demand.
"Close to the coast’s beautiful beaches and within easy access of the Gold Coast hinterland, the resort is surrounded by experiences that will appeal to the luxury travel segment."
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa will also amplify its meeting and events offerings, with 2,000 square metres of refreshed function space featuring 10 scalable meeting rooms for different event requirements. The upgraded pillarless 715 square metre JW Ballroom contains vehicle access – geared for large-scale exhibitions and product launches. A smaller ballroom will provide 276 square metres of space for meetings and events.
"We are absolutely delighted to be embarking on the transformation of our tropical paradise oasis to offer genuine luxury experiences here on the golden beaches of the Gold Coast," says Ravinder Dhesi, General Manager, JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa.
"We look forward to welcoming our guests back to our enhanced resort and to anticipating their every need with our exceptional levels of service and a warm and welcoming team."
The resort has put in place a comprehensive approach to meet the safety challenges presented by COVID-19, including higher standards of cleanliness and modifications to associate-guest protocols.
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa is set to join Marriott International’s portfolio of 20 hotels in Australia.
Over the next 12 months, Marriott will open eight new hotels including W and Ritz-Carlton hotels, adding 2,000 rooms and growing its portfolio by a third.
Hunt reveals that a further 11 Marriott hotels are scheduled to open over the next couple of years, with most already under construction.
"This is the first JW Marriott to enter the market, which will serve to increase local awareness of the JW Marriott brand, which will, in turn, deliver more interest and opportunities for its expansion," Hunt notes.
"Worldwide, we operate 95 JW Marriott hotels in more than 30 countries, with the brand currently having a much bigger presence in other continents.
"We look forward to seeing its footprint grow here in the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific region in the not-so-distant future."