CEL Australia selected to develop a Momentus Hotel at the Darwin Waterfront
A Singaporean hotel chain has been selected to develop the multimillion-dollar Darwin Convention Centre Hotel. Here’s what we can expect from the project.
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A Singaporean hotel chain has inked a deal to develop an up-market 4-star hotel at the Darwin Waterfront precinct.
CEL Australia will develop, own and operate the 236-room Darwin Convention Centre Hotel, following a competitive Expression of Interest process.
The hotel will be operated under CEL’s own brand, Momentus Hotels & Resorts, which is headquartered in Singapore, and will be the first Momentus hotel in Australia.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Eva Lawler and CEL Darwin executive director Gallant Tang signed a project development agreement for the hotel, expected to open towards the end of 2026.
Mr Tang said the company’s market research saw “a lot of potential” in the Top End market.
“We’re both excited and proud to be selected for this particular development, it was quite a competitive process so we’re very happy that we got chosen,” he said.
The hotel will be connected to the existing convention centre, expanding its footprint into an adjoining carpark, but Mr Tang said most of the details were still to be worked out.
“We’re definitely looking to build at least two restaurants and at least one pool, a pool on the first floor, but as for the other details it’s too early to say,” he said.
CEL estimates the build will cost about $100m.
Ms Lawler said the NT government was contributing $5m – $6m to the project in the form of the land and headworks.
“This project is also a win for workers in our hospitality and tourism industry, with positive flow on effects for other local businesses such as tour operators, and is another feather in the cap of the Darwin Waterfront area,” she said.
Works are also expected to soon begin on a long-awaited Larrakia cultural centre at Stokes Hill – more than three years after a contract to design the project was awarded.
“They’re going to have a sod turning very, very soon,” Ms Lawler said.
“Like any project in the Territory, it is a matter of sometimes making sure that you’ve got all the right subcontractors in place.”
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