Adelaide attracts more investment: Hospitality boost hits the City as new hotels check-in
News Release Premier Jay Weatherill
Friday, 28 March 2014
http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/index.php/media-centre/news-archive?limitstart=0
Adelaide attracts more investment: Hospitality boost hits the City as new hotels check-in
The revitalisation of Adelaide’s Riverbank precinct and the return of football to the City is stimulating more private investment, construction and flow-on hospitality jobs.
Three new city hotels with around 600 rooms are set to open this year, catering for the increased number of football fans and other visitors to Adelaide.
Premier Jay Weatherill, releasing the final time-lapse footage of the Adelaide Oval redevelopment, said that it was exciting to see the Government’s investment in infrastructure projects was enticing private developments. “Tomorrow’s Showdown at Adelaide Oval marks a new era for our city and the benefits will flow into the cash registers of city hotels, restaurants and retail outlets,” he said.
“We have laid the foundation by investing in the Riverbank precinct, the SAHMRI, Royal Adelaide Hospital and greater health precinct on North Terrace and the new Adelaide Oval.
“What we are now seeing is more private development leveraging off of this investment, with three new city hotels in the pipeline this year.
“There are currently 33 privately funded developments with a value of nearly $2.5 billion in various stages of case management in the city.
“Our big build, combined with private sector activity has created around 22,000 jobs in the property development industry.
“This is what a vibrant City agenda is about; investing in our city today so that business is excited about what Adelaide has to offer and more young people stay in South Australia.”
The Adelaide Casino is also planning a major $350 million refurbishment and expansion, starting with a $40 million investment over the next year. The hotels, the 170-room Mayfair Hotel and the 120-room Quest apartments both on King William St, the 311 room Ibis on Grenfell St will open later this year.
General Manager of the Mayfair Hotel, Aaron Oh said Adelaide was changing rapidly. “Demand is driving infrastructure and major developments, especially in and around the Riverbank Precinct which will renew reasons for visitors to travel to Adelaide,” he said. “This has reinforced our confidence in the refurbishment of the iconic heritage listed CML building, transforming it to the new boutique five-star Mayfair Hotel.
“The Mayfair Hotel is in the final stages of construction and we’ll be embarking on a recruitment drive very soon to fill the newly created hospitality and administrative jobs within the hotel.”
Quest general manager Andrew Weisz said major projects, including Rundle Mall, the Adelaide Oval redevelopments and the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, were a key factor in the company’s decision to expand its presence in the state.
General manager of Ibis Adelaide, Nathan Frost said his development was designed to fill an important 3.5 star requirement in the Adelaide city accommodation market for both business and leisure travellers. “Such an infrastructure investment will stimulate demand and increase both international and domestic inbound travel to the city, reaping benefits in other business-tourism areas,” he said.
“From a domestic perspective, this new Ibis Adelaide hotel complements the surrounding precinct development, with the upgraded Adelaide Oval and ongoing redevelopment of Adelaide Convention Centre, which will draw more fans and businesses to the city.”