Outgoing Tourism Australia Chair, Bob East, who has served in the role since 2017.

Mantra Group Bob East sitting new

One of the largest clubs in Queensland, Southport Sharks, has joined forces with leading Australian hotel and resort operator, Mantra Group, to launch a new hotel on the Gold Coast.

Featuring 120 rooms and 209 carparks, construction of the estimated AUD$25 million Mantra at Sharks commenced last week, with an opening scheduled for early-2018.

After an extensive due diligence period, Southport Sharks recently engaged leading South East Queensland companies, McNab and GroupGSA.

“We are very excited to partner with Mantra, and engage market-leading construction and architectural firms in McNab and GroupGSA,” said CEO of Southport Sharks, Dean Bowtell.

“The decision sends a strong message that we’re serious about partnering with local business and investing locally.

“This project will benefit the economy of the Gold Coast, not only through the construction phase, but for years to come,” he said.

Mantra at Southport Sharks

Mantra Group Chief Executive Officer, Bob East said the Group is thrilled to partner with Southport Sharks – one of the Gold Coast’s strongest and most recognisable businesses.

“Mantra at Sharks will provide a market-leading hotel offering, well positioned to become a premier corporate, meetings and leisure hotel, and its opening is well timed to coincide with strong market conditions in the lead up to and during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games,” East said.

“The new hotel will complement our existing portfolio of 127 properties across Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Hawaii.”

The hotel forms a part of the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct which already boasts Gold Coast University Hospital, Griffith University, Gold Coast Private Hospital and of course the Commonwealth Games village.

“As a stakeholder of the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, we anticipate many medical professionals, interstate business executives, and families visiting will make use of the hotel and general club facilities,” Bowtell said.

“We are confident in our capability to also tap into sports tourism, combining the hotel with our modern fitness facilities and conference capabilities.”

James Wilkinson

Editor-In-Chief, Hotel Management