Noosa resorts: Who owns holiday hot spots major hotels and resorts

Noosa’s reputation as an exclusive holiday destination is no secret and it has attracted many ritzy businesspeople keen to cash in on its popularity. SEE THE LIST

From Richard Branson to Queensland’s second-richest man Noosa has its fair share of ritzy businesspeople behind the $1bn tourism industry.

A look at the owners of some of the region’s major resorts reveals a number of key players who are benefiting from the tourism hotspot’s popularity.

Visit Noosa chief executive Melanie Anderson said tourism underpinned the region’s economy, despite Covid-19 lockdowns preventing interstate and international visitors from enjoying the area.

While she said tourism supported many businesses, some had fared better than others throughout the pandemic.

She said Visit Noosa’s annual report found visitor numbers and spend was better than state and nationwide statistics this year.

Domestic overnight figures were also their best since the start of the pandemic, with some even surpassing the record-breaking year of 2019.

Some of Noosa's resort owners: Accor Hotels CEO Sebastien Bazin, Golden Horse Nine Dragon Lake Holdings' Feng Di, John van Lieshout and Sir Richard Branson.

“Our industry has faced one of the most challenging two years as they have dealt with the constant ups and downs – mostly downs – that they face in navigating their businesses through the challenges of Covid-19,” Ms Anders said.

“But there is optimism as we look forward to borders opening and interstate visitors returning in time for the summer season.”

The number of Queenslanders visiting Noosa increased 27 per cent from 2019 to a record 768,000.

Total spend for the year (including day trippers) was just over $1 billion – the highest since the start of the pandemic.

The Daily has taken a deep dive into the ownership of some resorts and hotels, revealing some high-profile owners.

Arguably the region’s most luxurious and exclusive accommodation offering – Makepeace Island, is owned by Sir Richard Branson – as well as several co-owners.

French-based Accor Hotels owns Peppers Noosa Resort and Villas, Sofitel, Mantra French Quarter and The Sebel.

Queensland’s second-richest man John van Leishout has owned Seahaven Resort since 2011 when he and wife Linda snapped up the Hastings Street resort for almost $40m.

But there are plenty of Queensland-based businesspeople and “mum and dad investors” mixing it with the uber-rich.

Resort Brokers senior broker Glenn Millar said aside from the French Quarter and the Sebel, Noosa’s resort market was made up of plenty of smaller properties.

“The majority of that stock is made up of mum and dad operators,” he said.

“Hastings Street is a bit different though, beachfront at Noosa is not your mum and dad operators, they’re the more experienced operators.”

He said the resort broking market had never been stronger despite Queensland being in and out of lockdown.

Take a look at some of Noosa’s major resort owners:

The major player

Chairman and CEO of French hotel operator AccorHotels Sebastien Bazin. Picture: ERIC PIERMONT

The resort owner with the most skin in the game at Noosa is France-based accommodation giant Accor, which owns Peppers Noosa Resort and Villas, Sofitel, Mantra French Quarter and The Sebel.

Chief executive Sebastien Bazin, 58, heads the French multinational company which generated almost $920m in revenue between July and September with its 5,525 hotels.

Mr Bazin said in the company’s quarterly report that the business was very strong in Europe, the Middle East and America.

However its revenue in Australia was down 56 per cent, with losses attributed to lockdowns in major cities.

It said the gradual easing of restrictions should enable a business recovery.

The high flyers

Makepeace Island owners Brett Godfrey and Sir Richard Branson are helping save Noosa's koalas.

One of the most exclusive accommodation offerings in the Noosa region is owned by Virgin founder and one of the richest men in Britain, Sir Richard Branson.

Makepeace Island was developed as a private retreat for family and friends of Mr Branson and Virgin Australia co-founder Brett Godfrey.

Since 2011 it has been offered as an exclusive accommodation option – renting out the island for up to 20 people costs about $18,000 a night.

Radek Sali, founder of Light Warrior and prominent Queensland business entrepreneurs Cathie Reid and Stuart Giles are also co-owners of the island.

Part of the furniture

John Van Lieshout.

The property magnate who founded the Super A-Mart chain has a slice of Noosa paradise after snapping up Seahaven Resort for a cool $40m.

John van Lieshout and his wife Linda purchased the property in 2011 but the tourism hotspot had been a part of their lives for decades earlier.

The pair have owned a family holiday home at the prized Witta Circle since 1989.

In 2011 they purchased the neighbouring four-bedroom home for $3.68m.

Mr van Lieshout sold Super A-Mart to a private equity in 2005 and has an estimated wealth of about $2.45bn, making him Queensland’s second-richest person behind Clive Palmer.

The Victorians

RACV Noosa Resort

Who says you can’t mix work and play?

A major insurance and roadside assistance company also operates nine resorts in Australia including one in Noosa.

The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria operates the award-winning RACV Noosa.

The shareholder-based Royal Automobile Club of Victoria has 11 Victorian-based directors and more than two million members.

The resort was awarded the RACQ People’s Choice Award – Accommodation – award at the Queensland Tourism Awards last week.

It also received silver for best self-contained accommodation.

Retirement and holiday parks

Ingenia CEO Simon Owen at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane. Picture: Tim Marsden

Retirement living owner and operator Ingenia Communities Group added to its resort offerings with the $12.5m purchase of BIG4 Bougainvillia Holiday Park at Noosa.

Chief executive Simon Owen said it was an attractive investment that would deliver a strong yield and diversify their revenue base.

The 6.5ha park is near Noosa Heads and opposite the Tewantin Noosa Golf Club.

It has 43 permanent homes and 135 short term sites providing caravan, camping and cabin accommodation added to its resort offerings with the $12.5m purchase of BIG4 Bougainvillia Holiday Park at Noosa

Big hitters

Golden Horse Nine Dragon Lake Holdings’ Feng Di pictured at Hope Island Resort at the Gold Coast with Consolidated Properties executive chair Don O’Rorke. Picture: Richard Gosling

A major Hong Kong-based real estate and resort developer owns Noosa Springs – a luxury golf resort and tourist attraction.

Noosa Springs Investment, a related entity of Golden Horse Nine Dragon Lake Holdings, purchased the resort in 2014 from former local owners the Starkey family.

The Chinese corporation is chaired by Feng Di and also owns the Gold Coast’s Links Hope Island Golf Club.

Mr Di was in Noosa for the handover and spoke of his vision to raise the reputation of the facility internationally.

The Starkey family, including Alan and his son Phillip, spent about 20 years steering the masterplanned development of the area.

The locals

Geoff and Tamara Hussin owned Ivory Palms Resort from 2013 to 2021.

A locally-owned resort was snapped up by another Queensland-based business in July this year.

Husband and wife Geoff and Tamara Hussin sold Ivory Palms at Noosaville to a new operator, the Gold Coast-based Stayco.

Stayco purchased the more than 120-unit complex, as well as four other properties in Queensland.

The four-star resort was built in 1998.

The Hussins increased occupancy by about 95 per cent from when they took over ownership in 2013 to 2019.

Originally published as Noosa resorts: Who owns holiday hot spots major hotels and resorts