Hotelier Glenn Piper buys Hook Island Lodge in Whitsundays with plans to create world class venue

A hospitality mogul on a multimillion-dollar buying spree has snapped up a battered Whitsunday Island lodge with plans for a “barefoot luxury resort”.

Hospitality mogul buys Hook Island Lodge in the Whitsundays.

Sydney-based entrepreneur Glenn Piper has added to his growing list of hospitality assets after swooping on a battered Whitsunday Island resort with plans to create a world class tourism experience.

The founder and chief executive of Meridian Australia has bought the leasehold of Hook Island Lodge and has plans to build a “barefoot luxury resort”.

The lodge was devastated by cyclones in 2011 and 2017 the previous owner – a private family – invested significant time and capital to clean it up and obtain approvals for a 50-villa luxury lodge, glamping resort or day-tripper tourism operation.

Mr Piper plans to build a new $20m world-class eco-lodge, with food and beverage at the heart of the experience.

“We are thrilled to secure a landmark position in the heart of it on Hook Island,” he said.

“There’s nothing quite like it. Very few locations in the world can offer this level of natural wonder.

“I want to create an experience that befits the beauty of the island, and the Whitsundays – respectfully and sustainably. I’m energised at the thought of creating a world class hospitality experience for this slice of paradise.”

Entrepreneur Glenn Piper has bought Hook Island Lodge.

The lodge has been closed since 2013 and a sale price has not been revealed but it is believed Mr Piper, who has partnered up with a small syndicate, paid more than $10m for the leasehold of the resort.

He will receive the keys in August and will immediately start his research and consultancy process

Located on the southeastern side of Hook Island, the exclusive 9.3ha site offers two private beaches, more than 1km of water frontage and sweeping views of Hook Passage and the Great Barrier Reef.

The Hook Island acquisition closely follows Mr Piper’s recent purchase of the Merewether Beach Hotel, an iconic beachside institution in Newcastle, as well as the transformation of the Harbord Hotel in Sydney’s Freshwater.

Mr Piper has a background in residential investment and development through his company Meridian Australia.

Secluded beaches, abundant wildlife, dense forests and spectacular coral reefs are some of the attractions of Hook Island.

CBRE Hotel’s Mr Gibson, who struck the deal, said there was increasing confidence in the tourism market post Covid.

“The fact that Hook Island Lodge went under offer in the very first week of a public expressions of interest process, highlights the confidence experienced operators have in our tourism market,” he said.

“We received in excess of 150 inquiries through the process from a range of well-known investors, including major international F and B players, as well as ultra-high net worth individuals.

“Queensland, and more specifically the Whitsunday Islands, has witnessed record hospitality and tourism investment over recent years, marking it as one of the most resilient markets through the pandemic and positioning it perfectly to capture to resurgent international inbound market.”

Originally published as Hotelier Glenn Piper buys Hook Island Lodge in Whitsundays with plans to create world class venue