Future Gold Coast: CEO Matt Bekier of The Star’s opinion on Coast growth

The CEO of Star Entertainment Group says their long-term commitment to the city is genuine — and there is plenty more the group is hoping to deliver as the city continues to grow.

Our long-term commitment to the Gold Coast is genuine.

While the region has suffered in recent years from hollow promises and imploding proposals, The Star Entertainment Group has consistently backed the GC with tourism investments of substance.

We are proud of what we have done to help create a springboard for continued tourism growth in the Gold Coast and southeast Queensland more generally.

There is also so much more we would like to deliver. The Star Gold Coast can be a world-class tourism and entertainment destination to compare with the best in the world.

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It is an important consideration because in the tourism landscape our competition comes from other cities in Australia, various regions in the Asia-Pacific and further afield including the USA and Europe.

To stand out you must have scale. You must be authentic. You must offer the quality that will encourage people to travel from interstate or from around the globe to savour the experience you’re offering.

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They are proof points we are prepared to deliver if the circumstances allow.

We recently acquired with our partners the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort on the Gold Coast. Together with the refurbished The Star Gold Coast, that is a book value of around $1.5 billion.

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Managing director and CEO of The Star Entertainment Group, Matt Bekier. (AAP Image/Josh Woning)

The Star has committed a further $850 million in the past four years. It includes opening the luxury suite hotel, The Darling, last year. We have added new signature restaurants and bars and are currently building a Dorsett hotel and apartments tower which is planned for completion in 2022.

There is also the expanded $2 billion-plus master plan, already approved by the Queensland Government.

The masterplan features a further four towers, increasing our restaurant, cafe and bar portfolio to around 50, providing world-class resort facilities, potentially a zip line, other tourist attractions and a bridge with direct access to Pacific Fair.

The Darling came to fruition last year.

We would deliver the masterplan with no additional poker machines.

The Star wants to be at the heart of the Gold Coast and the events that matter most to this city. We were the first major partner for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Logies have found their home at The Star Gold Coast.

We continue to assist Magic Millions grow into a premier event of the Australian sporting calendar and we are working with the Quandamooka people on North Stradbroke Island to help them create an industry around bringing native honey to the market.