Covid, construction delays and red tape pushes back opening of The Continental, Sorrento
Well heeled locals won’t be enjoying sundowners at The Conti this summer. Here’s why.
South East
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The Mornington Peninsula’s luxe Euro-style resort and hotel will not open this summer and some elements of the multimillion dollar project are unlikely to launch until mid 2022.
Those behind the massive revamp of The Continental Hotel in Sorrento say the ambitious redevelopment has been delayed by Covid, a construction shut down and council red tape.
The precinct is being developed by consortium Victor Smorgon Group, Kanat Group and Trenerry Property.
Trenerry Property Group director Robert Dicintio confirmed on Friday that The Continental would begin a staged opening in late March 2022, if no further restrictions were imposed.
Mr Dicintio blamed State Government restrictions on the construction industry and delays to application assessments by Mornington Peninsula Shire for the slow progress.
“However, we are operating at 100 per cent capacity now and of late, Council has certainly renewed its focus on assessing applications in a more timely manner and we are very grateful and appreciative,” Mr Dicintio said.
He said the current plan was to open the food and beverage elements, comprising seven restaurants and bars run by Melbourne chef Scott Pickett and publican Craig Shearer, in late March.
The following month 80 hotel rooms in the main heritage building and surrounding the pool would open under the five-star InterContinental Resort Hotel banner.
The remaining 28 hotel rooms in the Rile Lane building would be ready to receive guests by June, 2022.
The Aurora Spa is relocating from St Kilda to the Sorrento resort and the spa component was scheduled to open in April with the bathhouse to follow in June.
Mr Dicintio said despite the fact the venues were yet to have exact opening dates there had been “extremely strong interest” for weddings and conferences and bookings for corporate functions had already been made.
The Continental will need 270 staff for peak periods and 70 per cent of that total are frontline employees with a large number employed as casual and seasonal workers.
Mr Dicintio said the team was looking forward to borders opening to help fill positions.
“In any case, employment is very difficult for all businesses on the Mornington Peninsula given the long daily commute (from Melbourne) and very high cost of housing,” he said.
Mr Dicintio toured the site on Friday with Mornington Peninsula councillors and Nepean MP Christ Brayne.
“After a long road, it’s clear the Continental Hotel including the Intercontinental, the restaurants and the spa will be a strong offering for the Mornington Peninsula’s tourism industry,” Mr Brayne said.
Deputy mayor Sarah Race said seeing The Conti come back to life “in such a magnificent way, and with such flare” was a boon for Sorrento.
Cr Susan Bissinger said the reinstatement and improvement of the statuesque building had brought joy to locals and regular visitors who for many years had been walking past “a crumbling ruin”.
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