The Dorsett Gold Coast

A 53-storey mixed use tower set to create 2300 jobs and house one of the Gold Coast's largest luxury hotels has broken ground in a sod-turning ceremony on Broadbeach Island today.

The $400 million development at The Star Gold Coast will also herald the entry to Australia of the internationally-acclaimed Dorsett hotel brand.

The Dorsett will be among an elite group of hotels on the coast with more than 300 rooms and be the second biggest in the Broadbeach region behind only The Star Grand. The tower will deliver The Star Gold Coast a third hotel - alongside The Star Grand and The Darling - boasting 316 rooms.

The Dorsett and The Darling, opened earlier this year, are the first luxury hotels to be developed on the Gold Coast since 2011. The tower will also include apartment accommodation, with 423 one and two-bedroom options taking the overall supply at The Star Gold Coast complex to almost 1400 rooms.

Exciting new restaurant and bar concepts are also planned, together with a recreation deck with ocean views and a resort pool for hotel guests. Economic benefits flowing from the project will include 2300 jobs, with 1800 in construction and a further 500 created once operational. The Star Gold Coast's workforce will expand by 21 percent from 2400 to 2900 employees. Destination Gold Coast Consortium - a joint venture between The Star Entertainment Group and its Hong Kongbased partners Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium - will develop the tower.

It further extends a strong relationship forged in multi-billion-dollar investments for mega projects at Queen's Wharf Brisbane and Sydney. The joint venture has also acquired the Sheraton Grand Mirage beachfront resort on the Gold Coast. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined The Star Entertainment Group Chairman John O'Neill to celebrate breaking ground for the 4.5-star Dorsett hotel and apartment tower.

"We are delighted to further enhance the tourism appeal of the Gold Coast and south-east Queensland more generally with this latest joint venture development," said Mr O'Neill. "Together with our partners we have, in progress or planning, projects that will see our investment across Brisbane

and the Gold Coast exceed $4.5 billion. "This latest commitment showcases the confidence we have in the future of the coast and its potential to become an even more established primary location for intrastate, interstate and international visitors. "The Star Gold Coast has been transformed over the past three years, and continues to evolve, with levels of investment that position us as a genuine global tourism destination.

"The introduction of a Dorsett hotel will bring with it increased awareness in the global market, especially in Asia, where Dorsett Hospitality International owns and operates the majority of its 54 hotels. "When the Dorsett opens for business around early 2022, it will ensure we have two of the largest hotels on the Gold Coast - plus the most luxurious in The Darling suite hotel.

"Overall, we will have the finest resort amenities, additional food and beverage venues to complement the award winning restaurants and bars already opened, and entertainment offerings that include leading Australian and international acts at The Star Gold Coast theatre." The Star Entertainment Group Managing Director Queensland, Geoff Hogg, said the sod-turning for the tower continued an exciting year on the Gold Coast.

"We had the success of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games which had the best of our city on display to the world," said Mr Hogg. "That level of exposure is invaluable for the Gold Coast and for Queensland more generally. "At The Star Gold Coast, we were delighted to open The Darling in time for the Commonwealth Games and now to progress just a few months later to breaking ground for the Dorsett hotel and apartment tower highlights our commitment to tourism and the region." Dorsett currently owns and operates hotels in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and the United Kingdom.

"Today's ground-breaking ceremony is truly a proud moment for us," said Datin Jasmine Abdullah Heng, Vice Chairman Dorsett Hospitality International. "The Gold Coast is an attractive tourist destination with its beautiful beaches and surfing spots, exciting theme parks, vibrant nightlife, great dining and shopping experiences. "We see its enormous potential, and we cannot wait to offer a whole new level of sophistication, service, and style to future guests. "We are one of Asia's fastest growing hotel groups and our strategy is to target China's fast growing affluent middle class market, offering memorable experiences at great value and the highest levels of hospitality."

Australia's largest privately-owned construction company, Hutchinson Builders, was named last week as the preferred contractor for the tower development. The 316 hotel rooms will feature across the tower's lower levels, while an additional 423 residential apartments ranging from 54sqm to 109sqm will form the upper levels. The tower has been designed by acclaimed architects Cottee Parker, in conjunction with multi-award-winning DBI

Design.

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