Surfair management sold to global tourism firm

A Brisbane group has sold the management rights to the iconic 223-room, four-star Surfair Resort at Marcoola for an undisclosed sum.

Central Apartments & Hotels has sold the management rights to the iconic 223-room, four-star Surfair Resort at Marcoola to global hospitality group, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific.

A Brisbane group has sold the management rights to the iconic 223-room, four-star Surfair Resort at Marcoola for an undisclosed sum.

Central Apartments & Hotels sold the management rights to global hospitality group, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific.

Central Apartments & Hotels, which is owned by development and construction giant Pradella Group, manages approximately 2,200 short and long-stay apartments throughout Queensland and New Zealand together with a range of conferencing venues.

Surfair’s sale to Wyndham Vacation Resorts is part of Central’s strategic move away from leisure centres to focus on growing its portfolio in the key CBD centres of Australia and New Zealand.

While the sale is subject to conditions and a confidentiality clause, Group General Manager of Central Apartments & Hotels, Lindsay Prior said: “The price was negotiated based on Surfair’s solid business performance and high brand awareness among its key markets.”

“Wyndham’s decision to purchase the management rights was also based on Surfair’s natural fit with its portfolio of 60 hotels throughout the USA and South Pacific,” Mr Prior added.

“We are delighted that a company of Wyndham's calibre will take the reigns of Surfair and take it to new markets through its extensive global reach and hundreds of thousands of vacation club members.

Barry Robinson, President & CEO of Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific said Surfair would be a welcome addition to its portfolio of hotels and resorts.

“Central has done a terrific job in establishing the Surfair brand name in the competitive Sunshine Coast market. We hope to add-value to the efforts of the management and staff and look forward to continuing business as usual,” Mr Robinson said.

In addition to Surfair’s self-contained apartments, hotel rooms and penthouses, the full facility resort includes a range of recreational and retail facilities, bars, dining options, day spa and a purpose-built conference centre catering for up to 250 delegates that is popular with both local and interstate delegations.

Surfair opened in December 2004 following a multi-million dollar refurbishment with Central launching the resort into both the tourism and business sectors.

“We are looking forward to strengthening our involvement in the Sunshine Coast community and continuing to contribute to the growth of the local economy and tourism industry,” Mr Robinson said.

“Surfair is a great tourism and leisure facility that has a very strong local following and we hope to build on Central’s activities by bringing more international visitors to this beautiful part of Queensland,” he said.

Originally published as Surfair management sold to global tourism firm