Pellicano and Quest to start work on first boutique hotel project in Robina on Gold Coast

A Melbourne-based developer will break ground today on Quest’s first Gold Coast project, as the hotel operator seeks to make inroads into the growing business trip market.

MELBOURNE-based developer Pellicano will break ground today on Quest’s first Gold Coast project, as the hotel operator seeks to make inroads into the growing business trip market.

The $32 million eight-storey project, to be called Quest Robina and Lucia Residences, will include 80 rooms, 37sq m of ground-floor retail, two-level basement carpark and 24 residential apartments. It will be located adjacent to the train station in Robina’s Stadium Village precinct.

An artist’s impression of the planned Quest apartment-hotel project at Robina.

Pellicano bought the 2769sq m site at 3 Centreline Place in April last year from Robina Land Corporation for $2.172 million. It received planning approval from Gold Coast City Council in August and shortly afterwards cemented a partnership with Quest for four projects worth $182 million.

Besides Robina, the projects are located in Ballarat, Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria, with all four set for completion in 2020.

Robina/Varsity Lakes is home to a growing workforce, seen in the falling office vacancy rate, which fell from 13.3 per cent to 12 per cent for the six months to January.

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Quest Apartment Hotels general manager James Shields said the hotel will meet demand from the growing business trip market.

He said the business accommodation sector has seen average growth of more than 6.5 per cent over the past six years.

“We see Robina as a key commercial centre for the Gold Coast economy — evidenced by low office vacancy, iconic commercial towers and a range of drivers across the health, sporting and retail sectors to support future growth,” he said.

Pellicano managing director Nando Pellicano said the project meets the three fundamental elements of a successful development.

“Fifty years of development have taught us that the key drivers of an in-demand product remain constant despite market fluctuation; quality design, in-demand location and access to premium residential and lifestyle amenity,” Mr Pellicano said.

“This project’s convenient location and ease of access to amenities paired with Quest’s reputation for delivering quality accommodation ensures our confidence in the success of this project.

“Quest’s accommodation offering represents a unique opportunity to add value to the residential element of this development by offering hotel-like services for the occupants of the building.”

The four projects by Pellicano and Quest will deliver 328 Quest apartment-hotel rooms, 99 residential apartments, retail space of 2500sq m and a conference centre including theatrette. Pellicano has previously partnered with Quest on projects in Brisbane and Melbourne.