New international hotel unveiled for Wollongong

Wollongong, a thriving city south of Sydney, is set to get a new international hotel courtesy of Asian-based group Minor Hotels. 

 
Minor Hotels will introduce its Avani Hotels & Resorts brand to Wollongong with the opening of Avani Wollongong Hotel in 2027, marking Avani’s first new-build property in New South Wales.

 
Located near transport links, the CBD and the city beach, the hotel will offer "contemporary rooms, locally inspired dining and flexible event space".

The new hotel sits close to Wollongong’s central transport hub, CBD and city beach. 

Avani Wollongong will also anchor a major mixed-use development by local developer Blaq Property Group, designed to leverage off the city’s growth. 

Minor Hotels has worked closely with Destination Wollongong to ensure the hotel aligns with the region’s long-term tourism strategy and supports major events.

“Having an internationally recognised brand commit its name and expertise here is a genuine vote of confidence in Wollongong’s trajectory," says Destination Wollongong CEO Jeremy Wilshire. 

"It also marks an early step towards the NSW Government’s goal of delivering an additional 40,400 hotel rooms by 2035, and Wollongong is well placed to be a key contributor.”

Blaq Property Group has made application to increase the number of guest rooms from 107 to 140, which is currently under assessment.

A ground-floor restaurant will serve "locally inspired flavours", while there will also be a bar and events spaces. 

“Avani Wollongong will be our first Avani-branded property in New South Wales and will bring a breath of fresh air to this vibrant south coast city,” says  Craig Hooley, Chief Operating Officer, Minor Hotels Australasia. 

“This development will fill a much-needed gap in new hotel growth in Wollongong and the Illawarra [region]. 

"The hotel is set to become part of the region’s next chapter, offering a world-class, contemporary stay for business and pleasure that delivers upscale positioning in a growing urban destination.”

For more info see www.avanihotels.com/en.

Avani hotel brand to expand its global footprint

Minor Hotels has big plans for its Avani brand.

Launched in 2011, Avani Hotels & Resorts currently has 38 properties in 20 countries across Asia, Australasia, the Middle East, Indian Ocean, Africa, and one hotel in Europe in Portugal.

Now Minor Hotels, which operates 530 hotels in 56 countries, has announced the expansion in Europe of its lifestyle brand targeted at "millennial-minded travellers"

Avani Hotels & Resorts will add five properties in key cities in Europe: one in Spain, two in Italy, one in Germany and next year, one in the Netherlands.

Coinciding with the European expansion, Avani will also launch in Central and South America with hotels to be added in Mexico and Colombia.The first of the strategic additions will see Avani make its debut in Spain in June, with the rebranded 101-key Avani Alonso Martínez Madrid Hotel (above).

In Italy the brand will launch with the rebranding of two hotels – first the 65-key Avani Palazzo Moscova Milan Hotel in June, followed by the 144-key Avani Rio Novo Venice Hotel in the summer.

Later in the year Avani will also debut in Germany with the rebranded Avani Frankfurt City Hotel with 256 keys.

Also in Europe, Avani will enter the Netherlands in 2024 with the launch of a 163-key hotel in Amsterdam: the rebranded Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel, located in one of the Dutch capital’s most vibrant districts.

Regional operations in the Americas will start in one of Central America’s leading tourist destinations with the launch of the 140-key Avani Cancun Airport Hotel in Mexico in Q3, followed in Q4 by the 66-key Avani Royal Zona T Bogota Hotel in Colombia.

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels, says the expansion of the Avani brand’s footprint into Europe and Latin America reflects the group's strategy of continuing to expand and diversify its hotel offerings in the upscale tourist segment.

“Avani is now a well-established brand in Asia, Africa and the Middle East and known for its great value proposition, its design philosophy and unique service offering," he said.

"The work of recent years has prepared us to commit strategically to the expansion of Avani’s footprint into new regions of operation and marks a significant milestone for Minor Hotels.”