Australian casino operator The Star Entertainment Group announced today plans for the further renovation and expansion of its existing Jupiters Hotel & Casino complex on the Gold Coast. The property is currently undergoing refurbishment, but if the latest development plan is approved, it would result in a long-term multimillion expansion project.
As mentioned above, renovation work is going on at the Jupiters Casino site at present. The current plan for the hotel and casino venue includes a A$345-million refurbishment and the construction of a A$500-million hotel tower. However, Mat Bekier, Managing Director of The Star Entertainment pointed out today that the operator would like to expand the existing complex significantly. Today’s plan calls for the construction of an integrated resort much bigger than the proposed $3-billion development in Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf, which the company is currently working on.
Mr. Bekier also noted that if the economic conditions are right, there would not be another reason that would be good enough to prevent the addition of four more towers at the Gold Coast hotel and casino complex. These towers would offer more than 3,000 hotel rooms and luxury apartments.
Under the current refurbishment plan, the construction of a 200-meter tower with 700 hotel rooms and 350 apartments is set to start next year. The Star Entertainment would like to add four more towers at intervals of up to two years, if demand proves to be high enough after the launch of the first tower.
The idea behind the proposed Jupiters Hotel & Casino’s massive expansion is that the typical international tourist usually has more than one or two stops when in Australia, Mr. Bekier explained. If The Star Entertainment has a matching capacity across Queensland, the company will be able to provide visitors with “modern urban experience” and “different, beach type experience,” among other things. With that said, the casino operator would clearly look to maximize its market share in Queensland.
The Queensland market is extremely attractive to well-to-do Chinese players and general tourists. This is why, the state government issued three casino licenses for the launch and operation of integrated resort with the intention of making Queensland an even more desirable destination.
No timeline for the latest proposed plan was provided today. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined The Star Entertainment officials during the announcement. She commented that a public consultation period on the project has now been launched.
