Steve Marais, Condev Construction and Carl Bruhn, Queensland Airports Limited at hotel site.
Steve Marais, Condev Construction and Carl Bruhn, Queensland Airports Limited at hotel site.

Construction has commenced on Gold Coast Airport’s first on-site hotel, with the initial concrete slab poured at the $50 million development, which will be flagged under the Rydges brand.

Cranes have now been erected around the site following the two-week job of pouring the site’s foundations, which consisted of cement from more than 330 trucks.

Located to the south of the Gold Coast Airport terminal, the 192-room hotel is on track to open in mid-2020. Measuring seven storeys in height, the hotel will also offer guests a rooftop bar and viewing deck of the runway and airport. A plaza development will connect the hotel to the terminal to provide guests with easy access between the two.

Queensland Airports Limited Executive General Manager Property and Infrastructure, Carl Bruhn, said considerable planning went into designing the hotel and ensuring construction would cause the least possible levels of interruption.

“The most challenging part of this project was its location – in the middle of a busy airport precinct. Meticulous planning went into making sure the airport continued to run smoothly while a massive logistical exercise took place on its doorstep.”

Gold Coast Airport is owned by Queensland Airports Limited, which also owns Townsville, Longreach and Mt Isa Airports.