Holiday home buyers who have long gravitated to Queenstown’s alpine setting are increasingly looking for low-maintenance apartments that allow them to lock up and leave, while still generating income when they’re away.

For Wendy, who had spent years visiting the Queenstown and Arrowtown region, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>’s Mountain Oak Apartments provided the opportunity to formalise what had previously been a recurring holiday pattern.

“We always had Queenstown in the back of our minds to buy something there as a holiday home,” she says. “We love the Queenstown and Arrowtown area.”

<img alt="From slopes to markets: Mountain Oak connects residents to the best of Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/658d4f_48c3ec1ae5df4a2cab7d23c07c7f51b3~mv2.jpg?VersionId=27K8oQ4ExDN8Yu70VHDa9Olq59XU36m3" />

Time spent visiting her sister-in-law, who owns in Arrowtown, along with regular stays at Millbrook Resort, had already shaped a strong personal connection to the region.&nbsp;

Rather than approaching the purchase purely as an investment play, Wendy’s starting point was lifestyle.

“We were more thinking about ourselves and where we could stay, and then the rental aspect was second.”

Mountain Oak Apartments, located within the masterplanned Remarkables Park precinct in Frankton, aligned with that thinking. The ability to secure the apartment with a deposit and settle on completion made the timing work.

“The fact that we could put a deposit down with the balance on completion was a bonus for us,” she explains.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/313_Livingv2_WEB.jpg?VersionId=nV229fM0ZeYpoxOrX372HyGjfwY_LR8c" />

Wendy selected a two-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse, a configuration that supports both private use and guest flexibility.

“The two-bedroom, two-bathroom configuration appealed from both a rental viewpoint and for the ability to have friends stay while we are there,” she says.

Across the development, two-bedroom apartments range from 64sqm to 78sqm, with two-bedroom plus flexi options from 71sqm to 75sqm, each with an allocated car park. The flexi layouts introduce an additional space suited to work or hobbies, reflecting demand from buyers who split their time between leisure and remote work.

Apartments include underfloor heating in bathrooms, heat pumps to living areas, and joinery positioned to maximise natural light and mountain outlooks. The Remarkables Park precinct is known for its extended winter sunshine hours, water frontage and open views toward The Remarkables.&nbsp;

Units come in light and dark interior colour schemes.

<img alt="Mountain Oak Apartments draws holiday home buyers to Queenstown" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fd685a22-3b95-43a1-87cb-48fdd42bb4ba" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/658d4f_f9f89107c2704ebbbe5a6b36da508cb3~mv2.jpg?VersionId=MigFIEm6b.mrANANwxSmwHvC4RdJUuyR" />

While lifestyle was the primary driver, the fundamentals of the Queenstown market added reassurance.&nbsp;

“Proximity to the airport and tourism being the main attraction all year round,” Wendy says, when asked what stood out from an investment perspective.

Mountain Oak sits just eight kilometres from Queenstown’s CBD and around a two-minute drive from Queenstown Airport.&nbsp;

For Wendy, that airport proximity carries practical value.

“The airport proximity is a bonus, we think that being so close will be an attraction for the convenience side.”

Residents are also a short drive from Coronet Peak, Jack’s Point Golf Course, New World Supermarket, Five Mile Shopping Centre, and the dining, medical, gym, cinema and library amenities within the town centre, as well as the seasonal Remarkables Market.

Importantly, the purchase does not lock owners into a single use. Mountain Oak offers the flexibility to opt for short-term visitor accommodation or longer-term residential rental management, with 365-day visitor accommodation consent in place. Owners can utilise Safari Group’s 24/7 on-site management service or appoint their own provider, and do not need to decide on a strategy immediately.

“It was a bonus that we can rent it out as well as use it for ourselves,” she says.

Additional buying options, including furniture packages and storage units available for purchase within the building, further support a lock-and-leave model suited to interstate and overseas owners.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" />

Mountain Oak Apartments comprises 141 residences, ranging from one-bedroom configurations through to larger apartments and penthouses. One-bedroom apartments are currently priced from NZ$639,000, with three-bedroom options from NZ$1,299,000.

With 365-day visitor accommodation consent, the development is structured to respond to Queenstown’s established four-season tourism economy, spanning winter ski traffic and summer hiking, cycling, golf and lake-based activity.

Although Wendy acknowledges the strength of rental demand, her approach remains long term.

“We’re not planning to sell it anytime soon, so we are keen to hang on to it, but the passive income will be a bonus.”

Confidence in the developer also influenced her decision. Before proceeding, Wendy sought feedback within the local building community.

“We asked around and Safari Group had a good reputation,” she says.

Safari Group has delivered more than 2,000 hotel units and residential apartments across over 18 developments nationwide, with more than 25 years’ experience in the sector.

With completion anticipated by mid-2027, Mountain Oak is attracting a cross-section of buyers, from yield-focused investors to lifestyle purchasers seeking a foothold in one of New Zealand’s most tightly held alpine markets.

For Wendy, it represents both a future holiday base and a long-term asset within Queenstown’s year-round tourism economy.

Joel Robinson

How Mountain Oak Apartments draws holiday home buyers to Queenstown

Eduard Litver's Capitel Group is seeking to redevelop Chatswood's Mandarin Centre in the heart of the burgeoning suburb.

Capitel Group, in a joint venture with Metis Group, has filed a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to demolish the Mandarin Centre and construct a 32-storey tower designed by Skidmore, Owings &amp; Merrill (SOM) with 325 apartments.

The 3,524 sqm site at 61A-65 Albert Avenue will also home extensive retail amenity, both at street-level and across a four-level podium.

<img alt="First look: Metis and Capitel unveil $1.2bn+ plan to redevelop Chatswood’s Mandarin Centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="905976ea-08cd-409f-8a4c-33a3fb8bf351" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/1771923441002.png?VersionId=f_xI2ejpxQvEm4fPqGji01RY9_AWVY6O" />

In its early stage Design Report submitted to the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority, SOM describes the ambition for the project as one that “aims to revitalise and reactivate an important corner of the Chatswood CBD.”

The architects note that the existing shopping centre “has a lack of vertical connection between its five levels of retail and a cumbersome pedestrian access from the street to the second-level transit connection,” framing the redevelopment as an opportunity to reconfigure circulation and better integrate with surrounding transport infrastructure.

The design adopts a single tower configuration, shaped through early testing to respond to neighbouring buildings and key public spaces.

Retail activation is concentrated at ground and lower podium levels, with a focus on food and beverage, lifestyle and wellness tenancies. The intent is to create a more permeable ground plane and improve connections between Albert Avenue, Victor Street and the Chatswood transport interchange, located within walking distance of the site.

<img alt="First look: Metis and Capitel unveil $1.2bn+ plan to redevelop Chatswood’s Mandarin Centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1e0c8cb-ee9b-41c1-97ac-0455c043b9e7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/1771923442914.png?VersionId=y.Kbo.9bzLIbOabeygYts8Uf9imI.Dqh" />

The site occupies a prominent position on the southern edge of the Chatswood CBD core, bounded by Albert Avenue and Victor Street. It sits near the rail and metro interchange and within close proximity to Chatswood Chase, Westfield Chatswood, Chatswood Oval and a range of commercial office towers and residential buildings.

Chatswood has been one, and continues to be, of the most popular suburbs for developers in recent years. The most recent tower to launch is Hyecorp's Celine on Archer Street, which followed The Anderson by Changfa and Huirong.

Soon to launch is Coronation's Archer &amp; Albert nearby the new proposal.

Chatswood boom continues with Capitel and Metis’s $1.2 billion Mandarin Centre redevelopment

Apartment development applications continue to tally up in Rose Bay following the NSW Gov's 2025 update to the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy.

&nbsp;

Some $200 million worth of developments were filed in the space of four weeks at the back end of last year, with the likes of Fyve, HSN, Luxcon and Fortis all seeking to creating new apartment buildings.

The latest plans are for an amalgamated 3,105 sqm site across Conway Avenue, Fernleigh Avenue, and Carlisle Street. Developer Mathieson Property is planning <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dian-2-6-conway-avenue-rose-bay-nsw-2029">Dian</a>, 70 apartments across a new eight-storey building, perched on a ridgeline within walking distance of Rose Bay Town Centre.

The State Significant Development Application (SSDA), includes one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations. Over 15 per cent will be dedicated as affordable, as per the NSW Government's push for affordable housing. The 17 apartments will be managed by a community housing provider for 15 years following completion of the building.

<img alt="First Look: Mathieson Property unveils eight-storey infill housing proposal ‘Dian’ in Rose Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f99c21d9-e69d-4a23-ae35-3244cfa0b4ae" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Rose%20Bay%20site_0.png?VersionId=67KSZfecJ3fvn1ewo9xxKrneRT.Nsjwd" />

MHNDU has designed the building around three central cores, with lower-level apartments arranged to maximise corner balconies and cross-ventilation. Upper levels are configured with dual north–south aspects to capture harbour views and solar access.

Private open space is a key feature of the scheme, with generous balconies and terraces throughout. Five ground-floor apartments would include private pools, while one upper-level residence will feature a rooftop terrace and pool. A communal room and adjoining landscaped outdoor terraces provide shared open space for residents.

<img alt="First Look: Mathieson Property unveils eight-storey infill housing proposal ‘Dian’ in Rose Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dd2e275f-c270-4eb1-9a02-2b573b8eb540" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Rose%20Bay%20front_0.png?VersionId=Us5jNEG6iLFLLMfQSzVBVdILYobBj.g9" />

The site sits around 365 metres walking distance of Rose Bay Town Centre and around 312 metres from regular bus services on New South Head Road, meeting the accessible area criteria under the Housing SEPP.

In early 2025, the NSW Government implemented significant changes to its Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, altering planning controls to allow greater density for new apartment projects within an 800-metre walking distance of stations and town centres in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/woollahra-nsw-2025">Woollahra</a>&nbsp;Local Government Area, overriding existing local controls. Buildings are now permitted to rise up to six storeys within 400 metres of a station or centre, or eight storeys where affordable housing is incorporated, and up to four storeys within the 401 to 800 metre radius, which can increase to six storeys with affordable housing.

Mathieson Property unveils Dian Rose Bay apartment development

Lower North Shore developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hyecorp-property-group">Hyecorp</a> is preparing to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celine-chatswood-37-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Celine</a>, its new apartment development in Chatswood.

Set within a blue ribbon location on Archer Street, Celine will rise on a quiet, tree-lined enclave on the edge of the South Chatswood Heritage Conservation Area, a short walk from the connectivity which Chatswood is famous for.

Celine will deliver 122 one, two, three, and four-bedroom residences, designed to accommodate a broad range of buyers, from owner-occupiers to investors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362610]

Designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fuse-architecture-0">Fuse Architects</a>, the 29-storey tower has been shaped to respond to its Archer Street setting, with a defined podium and slender upper levels.&nbsp;

The building incorporates a two-storey residential lobby at the corner, double-height retail fronting Bertram Street, food and beverage tenancies along a through-site link, and two levels of commercial office space.&nbsp;

A landscaped pedestrian connection between Archer and Bertram streets will provide a publicly accessible link through the site, extending activity at ground level beyond the building footprint.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362606]

Inside, Hyecorp is emphasising scale and flexibility. Most residences will incorporate multipurpose rooms, allowing buyers to configure additional living, study or guest space within their floorplan.&nbsp;

Kitchens have been designed with proportions more commonly associated with standalone homes, complemented by Gaggenau and Miele appliances, integrated refrigeration, Miele laundry appliances, Taj Mahal stone and bronze tapware.&nbsp;

Buyers will also have the option to tailor aspects of their home through the developer’s “Live Your Way” personalisation service.

Resident amenity will include an outdoor pool, gym and sauna, as well as barbecue and lounge areas designed for shared use. Upper levels are oriented to capture eastern outlooks towards the Sydney CBD and surrounding greenery.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362633]

The location places future residents within 800 metres of Chatswood Interchange, providing access to metro and rail services, and within walking distance of Westfield, Chatswood Chase and the Chatswood Concourse. Parks including Chatswood Park and Beauchamp Park are nearby, along with a cluster of schools and private hospitals.

Celine continues Hyecorp’s focus on the Lower North Shore. The Australian, family-owned developer has been operating locally for more than 30 years, with recent projects including Audrey in St Leonards, now nearing completion, and Juliet in Roseville. With registrations expected to open soon, Celine represents the group’s latest addition to the Chatswood apartment market.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149594]

Hyecorp unveils Celine, a striking new apartment tower in the heart of Chatswood

International development company <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/spg-land">SPG Land</a> has kicked off construction of the $1.5 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/paradiso-place-surfers-paradise-103-ferny-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Paradiso Place</a>, one of the highest value developments to get underway on the Gold Coast in more than a decade.

Located on a 1.15ha site stretching from Surfers Paradise Boulevard to Ferny Avenue, Paradiso Place, when completed, will deliver 845 residences across three residential towers. &nbsp;

Paradiso Place has been several years in planning by SPG, which has now pushed the green light on construction to meet pent-up demand from investors and owner occupiers.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185858]

The move follows minor amendments to the original design to cater to buyer demand, including the provision of more premium residential amenity, including private dining, lounge and events spaces for residents to entertain guests.

The three towers, comprising 41, 40 and 44 levels, will bring to the market 845 apartments with each tower boasting its own podium level interconnected skybridge to create a unique elevated ‘beachside village’ for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=362500]

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>-designed development will bring a broad range of residences to the market, most offering ocean views and all enjoying five-star hotel amenities with world-class facilities and the convenience ground level retail precinct.

&nbsp;

Construction of Paradiso Place has been made possible by SPG’s newly established SPG Built division partnered with experienced project management group Eastview Australia, a company that has supported the development of a raft of major projects on the Gold Coast over the past two decades.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=362499]

“It’s a very exciting time for Paradiso Place as we start construction,” said SPG Land Chairman David Wang.

“We have spent our energy refreshing design and assembling the best team and waiting for what we believe is the right time to start construction on one of the most exciting mixed-use developments to proceed on the Gold Coast since Oracle in Broadbeach and Circle on Cavill in Surfers Paradise. &nbsp;

“The local and interstate downsizer market is getting stronger, and we see Paradiso Place as the right project for our times right now. Our company has the capacity to deliver large-scale projects, and we are thrilled to be bringing this vision to reality.”

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185861]

SPG Invest, a company founded in Australia in 1998 with a focus on high-end real estate and premium hospitality assets, has delivered 56 projects in the Asia-Pacific region over the past twenty-five years, including The Peninsula Hotel Shanghai and the Global 188 twin-tower project in Suzhou and Cambridge Residences at Robina.

Paradiso Place will deliver a range of new apartments with two-, three- and four-bedroom layouts, as well as a collection of sub-penthouse and penthouse apartments across three levels. Prices start from $950,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185852]

“We have a very strong vision for Paradiso Place – we are creating a unique beachside residential community where contemporary design &amp; architecture and luxury materials combine with five star residents’ amenities and the convenience of a premium retail precinct on the ground floor”, said SPG Land CEO Dr Ying Rao&nbsp;

“We are confident that the community will recognise that this is more than just another development. Paradiso Place will bring a much-needed retail precinct and lifestyle hub to northern Surfers Paradise with premium retail, lifestyle and food and beverage options,” Said Dr Rao&nbsp;

“The retail precinct is critical to enhancing the lifestyle amenity for residents and guests, so SPG will retain control of this precinct to curate a premium retail offering that will support this thriving new community.

“SPG will also retain short-term holiday letting to control premium and luxury outcomes in line with our vision.”

Construction of Stage 1 Paradiso Place is expected to be completed by end of 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=106566]

Construction commences on $1.5 billion Paradiso Place development in Surfers Paradise

Hotel Market

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The Old Bank, the historic Mittagong property in the Southern Highlands, has been listed for sale after its decade long restoration.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mittagong-130730858" target="_blank">property at 83 Main Street</a> has been acting as The Old Bank Hotel, but is now being offered as the potential to become a grand family residence.
Some 80 years after the settlement of Mittagong in the 1820s, the Southern Highlands town became home to many industries.
Following the 1867 completion of the railway line from Sydney, Mittagong became a gateway to the southern area and beyond, leading to the development of a tourist trade with inns, hotels, guest houses and shops becoming prevalent. 
The Commercial Banking Company occupied Waratah Cottage in the 1880s before relocating to Victoria House, some 500 metres away, before moving to the current property that was to be known as The Old Bank.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/3/28/Mitt2.jpg" alt="">
It was built in the late 1880s at a construction cost of around £2,840 on land purchased from John Hilder for £373. It opened its doors in 1891.
A complete restoration came following its $990,000 trade in 2009 when The Old Bank was bought as a hotel. CHECK.
Local craftsmen transformed the slate roofed and stone walled building which was falling into disrepair.
The main residence comprises six heritage-style bedrooms, which each have names stemming from xxxx. All complete with ensuite, the bedrooms are dubbed Clocktower, Gibraltar, Albert, Victoria and Alexandra.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/3/28/Mitt3.jpg" alt="">
They sit on the second level. The ground floor comprises an entry hall with reception and lounge, a private dining room, a library and a wine cellar.
The wine cellar was previously the original bank vault, which is to this day secured with a 1,000 kilogram door cast in London in 1852.
On the 1,095 sqm Main Street parcel are two freestanding buildings, the sandstock cottage and original coach house, both of which have been restored and now home self-contained accomodation. 
The Old Bank is being offered by Andrew de Montemas at W.M.Carpenter &amp; Associates Bowral.
He has a guide of $4 million.
 
 
 
 
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Mittagong's The Old Bank for sale as grand family home

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Australia remains a favoured hotel investment market due to its economic performance, stability, transparency and governance, Gus Moors, Colliers International’s Head of Hotels, says.
“With more than $1 billion worth of hotel assets currently being marketed or in play, we expect transaction activity to increase in FYE2019.”
Colliers International’s Capital Markets Hotel Investment Review found Australian hotel transaction activity slowed in FYE2018, with volumes easing to $1.34billion after a record three years.
Deal flow increased, however, with 35 transactions above $10 million concluding throughout the year. This compares to 30 transactions in FYE2017. In New South Wales, $350 million worth of hotel assets changed hands, followed by Queensland ($347 million) and Victoria ($343 million).
Australian investors accounted for 63.7% of asset trades in FYE2018, considerably higher than the 16.5% recorded in FYE2017.
Investors from Mainland China fell behind the rest of Asia as one of the more dominant sources of inbound capital, accounting for only 1% of transactions over the year, as capital restrictions continued to bite.
“This trend is likely to continue, with South East Asian investors dominating the offshore investment landscape driven by renewed interest in diversification, both in terms of location and product,” Mr Moors said. “
Colliers International found that for the first time for more than a decade, the number of rooms opening throughout the year surpassed the number traded with investors focused on the development of new rooms.
In FYE2018, almost 6,500 new rooms came on line in the ten major markets with an estimated value of more than $2 billion.
Colliers International estimates there is a weighted accommodation pipeline of around 27,000 rooms across Australia, with almost half of these new rooms currently under construction and 7,000 rooms proposed.
These are thought likely to commence construction in the next six months or are government mandated projects.
“All markets, except for Darwin and the Gold Coast, are seeing an accelerated pipeline with openings expected to peak in 2019 and 2020,” Ms Wales said.
“Development activity is greatest in Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth with increases set to expand the existing supply base by more than one third.”
Mr Moors said tourism was becoming increasingly important as Australia transitions to a more diversified service-based economy, and had the potential to be Australia’s fastest growing industry.
“Globally, travel continues to take a larger share of consumer spending and visitor expenditure in Australia is projected to continue to grow at a strong rate,” he said.
“The influence of demographics presents new opportunities for the hotel sector, as developers and brands seek to remain ahead of the curve in catering to both established and emerging generations of corporate employees and leisure travelers.
He concluded by noting, "strong growth in inbound tourism, particularly from China, increased leisure travel by wealthy retiring baby boomers and catering to Millennials as the largest segment of the workforce are all factors which investors should consider over the coming year.”
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Investment in Australian hotels on the rise in 2018: Colliers International

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The Melbourne Luxury Hotel market is out-performing virtually all other markets in Australia, driven by record international and domestic tourist numbers, with significant further domestic and international inbound growth forecast, according to Tourism Research Australia (TRA).
Melbourne developer Argo Group has appointed Savills to market the turnkey opportunity of a brand new 93-room lifestyle hotel situated at 230 Toorak Road, South Yarra, one of Melbourne’s oldest and most affluent inner-city suburbs.
The listing comes with approved planning permit, with opening of the hotel proposed for mid-2019.
The Hotel is ideally positioned in the heart of the bustling suburb of South Yarra, on Toorak Road, at its intersection with the famous retail and leisure district of Chapel Street.
Designed by award-winning architects Woods Bagot, the lifestyle hotel will comprise 93 hotel rooms ranging in size from 26 sqm to 32 sqm across ground and six levels, as well as a signature ground floor bar and restaurant.
Delivery of the Hotel will be overseen by experienced project managers Construction Assignments, who have overseen numerous leading hotel projects across Australia, with leading Melbourne based construction firm Hickory being retained to build the hotel.
Michael Simpson and Tom Shadbolt of Savills Australia are marketing the property. They said this is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a highly coveted freehold title to a new lifestyle hotel that will outshine its rivals in design, technological advancement and customer experience.
“Melbourne has been independently voted as the world’s most liveable city for seven consecutive years," Simpson said.
"Combine this with a global reputation for design, fine dining, retail and leisure and the city has propelled itself to a ‘must-go’ destination for international travellers.
“Argo Group is offering to market an exclusive opportunity to gain exposure to Australia’s most desirable, most tightly held and most coveted hotel market, and the flexibility to appoint a preferred hotel operator with control over branding, market positioning and management terms.
“The design-led boutique Hotel will immediately appeal to discerning customers seeking high quality accommodation in the lively South Yarra district” Simpson concluded.
Savills have released their quarterly update on the hotel market. It can be <a href="http://www.savills.com.au/publications-pdf/savills-hotels-quarterly-update-september-2017.pdf?utm_source=PropertyObserver&amp;utm_medium=DigitalAdvert&amp;utm_campaign=CPOeNewsletterBanner-HotelsUpdate-22Nov2017&amp;utm_source=Property+Observer+List&amp;utm_campaign=3fe0087e5e-Commercial_Property_15_November_2017&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_a523fbfccb-3fe0087e5e-245386345" target="_blank">found here.</a>
 
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Melbourne Luxury Hotel market is out-performing virtually all other markets in Australia

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Hotels are hot property for investors at the moment, outperforming all other property classes in Australia, says a recent report by Savills.
With international and domestic visitors growing 11.5 percent and 5 percent respectively in CY 2016, the hotel industry has not seen growth at this level since the Sydney 2000 Olympics, according to Savills Australia’s Hotels market report. 
Sydney and Melbourne are the standout performers, with their strong market KPI’s against a backdrop of compressing yields.
Chinese tourists take the lead in international visitors, growing at 22 percent, helped by more flights between the two countries and a relatively low Australian dollar making the country a more affordable destination, says Michael Simpson, Savills managing director of Hotels. 
“In a very positive sign for the depth of the market, the outstanding international inbound growth has been experienced across a wide range of markets, with inbound visitor growth from many established Asian markets, as well as the US, above 15 percent,” said Simpson.
In further proof of the strength of the market, Tourism Research Australia’s 10-year forecast expects international visitor nights and domestic visitor nights to grow at 5.6 percent and 3.1 percent annually respectively. Australia can expect to see increased room night demand nationally for the foreseeable future.
The Australia-wide market achieved a ‘revenue per available room’ (RevPAR) for CY 2016 of $139, which represented YOY growth of 2.2 percent.
All Australian cities posted RevPAR growth except Perth, Brisbane and Darwin with RevPAR declining in those cities by 9.3 percent, 8.7 percent and 9.6 percent respectively. The decline in performance of these markets is primarily due to the impact of the end of Australia’s resource boom, and rise in room supply.
For the remaining markets, Savills says growth in market KPI’s can be attributed to an increase in leisure demand from domestic and international markets, stimulated by a lower Australian dollar and stronger economic activity underpinned by construction and infrastructure projects.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/28/SavillsHotels.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/28/SavillsHotels.png" alt="">
China is the engine room for visitor night growth in Australia right now, says Simpson. 
Australia received more than 7.4 million international visitors (up 11.5 percent) and 251 million international visitor nights (up 3.8 percent) for the year ended September 30, 2016.
Tourism Research Australia recently released international visitor numbers for CY 2016 which totalled 8.3 million, representing a healthy year-on-year (YOY) growth of 11 percent. 
The New Zealand market continues to contribute the highest number of visitors to Australia. However, the China visitor market recorded YOY growth of 21.9 percent, enabling it to exceed 1 million visitors, who more importantly spend an average of 40 nights in Australia when touring Down Under. 
As a result, China produced 43 million room nights representing almost three times the volume produced by New Zealand. The Chinese visitors also tend to spend more per capita compared to other visitors.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/28/SavillsHotelDeals.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/28/SavillsHotelDeals.png" alt="">
Simpson went on to say that Sydney’s strong performance is set to continue with occupancies reaching capacity during peak holiday and corporate activity periods, providing the opportunity for hoteliers to grow ADR.
“Sydney’s Luxury segment capitalised on the strength of the market achieving an occupancy of 85.9%, and ADR of $339 (up 7 percent), delivering a RevPAR of $291 (up 5.7 percent), which exceeded Melbourne’s Luxury segment RevPAR of $271.
“The key factors underpinning Sydney’s current and expected future performance are a combination of buoyant economic metrics, strength in banking, finance, insurance, professional services and construction/ infrastructure projects, which are collectively fuelling a tsunami of economic activity and room night demand in Sydney.
“For the next 10 years, Sydney occupancy will remain in the 80th percentile,” said Simpson.
Melbourne was the second highest performing market in CY 2016 with an increase in occupancy for the fourth consecutive year. Conversely, Average Daily Rate (ADR) declined marginally, suggesting that while occupancy remained strong, hoteliers were unable to grow rate during non-peak periods. As a result RevPAR remained relatively stable in CY 2016, when compared to CY 2015.
Simpson said the inability to significantly grow ADR in CY 2016 is also demonstrated by Melbourne’s Luxury segment which reflected steady YOY market KPI’s, achieving an occupancy of 89.5 percent, ADR of $302 and delivering a static RevPAR of $271.
“Melbourne’s construction boom of residential apartments, commercial space and continuing development of Docklands, has also encompassed new hotel development,” he said.
“Despite the strength and enduring nature of Melbourne’s events calendar and symbiotic corporate activity Melbourne enjoys with Sydney, we anticipate that Melbourne market KPI’s will be under pressure to match Sydney’s performance in coming years given the relative challenge of delivering new supply in Sydney.” 
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Hotels become Australia’s highest returning real estate asset class: Savills 

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GUEST OBSERVER
Q3/2016 registered US$2.26 billion worth of investment transactions, representing a 15.0 percent increase over Q3/2015 (US$1.96 billion).
The number of transactions was also significantly lower.
Forty transactions were closed this quarter, while 46 transactions were recorded over the same quarter the previous year. The average transaction price was US$56.4 million, which was signi cantly higher than the US$42.6 million in Q3 a year ago. Japan commanded the largest share of total sales volume in the region this quarter, and all 13 transacted assets were acquired by Japanese investors. We expect growth of transaction volumes for the region for full-year 2016 to be subdued, mainly due to the lack of opportunities in core markets.
Eastern Asia
Japan continued to be one of the most active markets in APAC. Despite a quarter-to-quarter decline in sales volume of 32.1 percent, the total volume of JPY88.2 billion (US$865.5 million) was still the highest in the region. The hotel investment market has seen a series of large transactions in 2016, even as other sectors of Japan’s real estate market have retrenched.
Japan’s explosive growth in inbound tourism and its chronic lack of room supply have created a real interest in the hotel market, and players are leaping to take advantage. The Real Estate Investor Survey by the Japan Real Estate Institute (JREI) reports that expected cap rates on economy hotels in prime Tokyo locations have compressed from 5.4% to 5.0% since 1H/2015.
Hotel transactions frequently occur outside the nation’s capital, however – only seven transactions occurred in Tokyo in 1H/2016, according to Real Capital Analytics – resulting in a wide range of cap rates. We assume actual transaction cap rates to be much lower than JREI’s surveyed gure of 5.0 percent, because winning bidders tend to expect aggressive increases in ADR.
The largest buyer of the quarter was Japan Hotel REIT Investment Corporation (JHR) with the purchase of three hotels – Hotel Vista Grande Osaka, Hilton Nagoya and Hotel Ascent Fukuoka. The total sale was worth approximately JPY47.1 billion. Hotel Vista Grand Osaka will be rebranded into Holiday Inn Osaka Namba by the end of 2016, according to a JHR press release. Hotel Vista Grande Osaka was the largest transaction in Japan, sold by GK Apollo for JPY27.0 billion (US$267.3 million), or JPY85.9 million (US$851,275) per key. This was followed by Hilton Nagoya which was acquired at JPY15.2 billion (US$150.9 million), or JPY33.1 million (US$328,207) per key.
In June, Japan's Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry announced a plan to relax the oor area ratio of buildings by 1.5 times, or up to an additional 300 percent for hotel constructions. The new standards are expected to substantially increase accommodation capacity following Japan`s continuous increase in foreign visitors and the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Although based on this relaxed regulation, each local government is required to decide on their regional floor area ratios under the City Planning Law, and therefore the price of the land for hotel usage in major cities is expected to increase.
In China, sellers’ expectations remained high, and the continued lack of debt nancing for hotel projects has led major Chinese hotel investors to continue to look overseas for either tourism-related investments or refocus into investing in commercial assets or companies in other industries with high growth potential.
Chinese investors’ interest in Australian assets was evident in this quarter, concluding ve transactions there with a total of A$474.7 million (US$352.8 million), representing 15.6% of total volume in the quarter.
Hong Kong’s rst transaction of 2016 was closed this quarter, with the sale of A3 Hotel in Temple Street at HK$108 million (US$13.9 million), or HK$2.4 million (US$309,400) per key.
Southeast Asia
There were only two transactions in Southeast Asia this quarter. The Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel changed hands between IGB and S. Alam Group for MYR765 million (US$187.4 million), or MYR840,659 (US$205,890) per key.
There was no transaction in the same period the previous year. Malaysia has suffered from the sharp fall in international tourist arrivals, particularly those from China, since the airline disasters of two years ago. This quarter, however, the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association reported that the Chinese source market had shown some signs of recovery. According to Tourism Malaysia, international visitor numbers for 1H/2016 grew 3.7 percent, with remarkable increases from China and Thailand at 32.1 percent each and Laos at 26.8 percent. 
The Singapore hotel investment market remained inactive this quarter, due mainly to the lack of suitably priced assets and the tightened control of room stock by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. In Q2 and Q3, some 2,200 new rooms were added, mostly outside the central area, and 66 percent of the total was in the midscale category. Room nights sold for 1H/2016 rose 6.4 percent year-on-year, according to the Singapore Tourism Board. As of July 2016, the city state registered an increase of 11.5 percent year- to-date (YTD) for inbound international visitors. The Chinese source market jumped remarkably by 49.2 percent, followed by Thailand at 14.9 percent. This upward trend, however, is likely to be impacted to a certain extent by the Zika outbreak in August which has prompted a few countries to issue advisories warning travellers of the dangers of the mosquito-transmitted disease.
Australia and New Zealand
There were 17 transactions in Australia, totalling approximately A$943.2 million (US$716.4 million) this quarter, compared to 16 in the same period last year. In terms of volume, however, there was a remarkable increase from A$381.2 million (US$282.3 million) recorded in Q3/2015 compared to this quarter.
One recent notable sale was that of Novotel Melbourne on Collins from LaSalle Investment to Singapore- listed Frasers Hospitality Trust for A$237 million (US$ 178.7 million), or A$623,684 (US$470,290) per key. The purchase was part of the Trust’s plan to grow its hotel portfolio. Melbourne’s hospitality sector has been given the boost to grow, driven by the completion of Melbourne Airport’s Terminal 4, the expansion of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and development of several projects such as the Docklands and Fishermans’ Bend. Tourism Australia expects total visitor nights in the state of Victoria to grow at an average of between 4.0% and 4.6 percent for the next three years.
So far this year, the Australia market has been resilient and attractive for overseas investors due to its currency uctuations which has led to an increase in inbound travellers and, consequently, hotel performance.
New Zealand has captured a fair amount of interest from investors so far this year. Investment volume for the rst three quarters of this year totalled NZ$236.4 million from 11 transactions. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise released a report this year pointing out the shortage of hotel rooms in the country and highlighted investment opportunities to cope with this shortfall, especially in key cities such as Auckland, Queenstown, Rotorua and Christchurch. It also reported that in 2015, Auckland and Queenstown had consistently high occupancy rates of above 80 percent throughout the year, while Rotorua and Christchurch had seasonal peaks of also above 80%. Based on historical preferences, upscale and luxury rooms are expected to have a strong demand.
In recent years, New Zealand has seen remarkable growth in international visitor arrivals, rising 9.6 percent for full-year 2015; growth for the eight years prior to this did not rise above 6.0 percent. For 2016 YTD July, international visitor arrivals grew an impressive 11.2 percent. 
 
Simon Smith is senior director, Research and Consultancy, Hong Kong Savills and can be contacted <a href="https://www.savills.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Australian hotel market resilient, attractive for overseas investors: Savills

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SPONSORED POST 
Visitors add an average of 3 percent to a city’s population every night, posing significant opportunities for hotel, leisure and retail operators, according to the latest <a href="https://pdf.euro.savills.co.uk/global-research/12-cities-h2-2016---visitors.pdf" target="_blank">Savills 12 Cities Report H2/2016</a>. 
The report found that around 901 million domestic and overseas visitors were attracted to the twelve cities examined during 2015. They spent a total of 1.05 billion nights in hotels or other guest accommodation. In some cases, such as New York and London, the visitor populations were equivalent of another city.
<a href="/images/2016/11/14/The%20size%20of%20the%20visitor%20city.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/14/The%20size%20of%20the%20visitor%20city.jpg" alt="">
 
Visitor breakdown – who is visiting and why? According to the report, the split between domestic and overseas visitors varies widely between cities. In most, especially those with vast hinterlands such as USA, China, Australia and Russia, more visitors come from the home country. With a relatively high number of domestic visitors (9.20 million), Sydney is also experiencing a growth in international visitors (3.75 million) underpinned by strong holiday and education segments. London, with a relatively small UK hinterland, has the highest number of overseas overnight visitors (20 million) but fewer domestic visitors (13 million). View the full domestic/international visitor breakdown in the <a href="https://pdf.euro.savills.co.uk/global-research/12-cities-h2-2016---visitors.pdf" target="_blank">Savills 12 Cities Report</a>. 
It’s easy to assume that the attraction of global cities is all the history, buildings, culture, entertainment, lifestyle and leisure that they offer, and that it is tourists who make up most of their visitors. On average, 77 percent of international visitors to the cities in the Savills 12 Cities Report are there for leisure, tourism and reasons other than business, such as meeting up with friends and relatives.
Shanghai has a large percentage of international business visitors (55 percent) as it is not a prominent international leisure destination, especially compared to cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Sydney, which have a large proportion of tourists and other types of visitors seeking sunshine and lifestyle experiences. 
<a href="/images/2016/11/14/thumbnail_International%20Overnight%20Visitors.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 <img src="/images/2016/11/14/thumbnail_International%20Overnight%20Visitors.jpg" alt=""> 
Impact on the hotel, leisure and retail industries
Across Savills 12 cities, international overnight visitors spend a total of US$132.6 billion a year when they visit, 30 percent of it on accommodation. In this way, city visitors are participating in the real estate markets of cities every time they pay their hotel bill. This is also true of retail, food and beverage spend, which helps create demand for space and to pay the rent on these premises. They also support industries outside of the hospitality sector, such as airports.
George Nicholas, Global Head of Hotels at Savills, comments: “As global tourism continues to rise, demand for bed space in many city markets is now outstripping supply. For example, Tokyo has had an influx of tourists from China following the relaxation of Visa requirements and the city now has a chronic shortage of rooms, while in London, the fall in the value of the Sterling is attracting visitors who previously thought the UK’s capital too expensive. The net result of this is that we’re seeing a shift in where investor appetite for hotel assets and platforms stems from, with Asian capital in particular coming to the fore in Europe over the past twelve months.” Yolande Barnes, Director of Savills World Research, adds: “It’s not just the market for hotels and hotel land upon which international visitors have an impact. Across nine top global cities including New York, London and Paris, annual food and beverage spend by international visitors totals at least US$21 billion a year and shopping accounts for US$38 billion. Restaurants, bars, cafes and shops are significantly impacted by these revenue inflows, so ensuring that there is enough space to accommodate visitors is therefore not just imperative for the hotels sector, but also for the wider city economy.”
To learn more about the latest trends in world real estate, visitor cities and economic outlook, view <a href="https://pdf.euro.savills.co.uk/global-research/12-cities-h2-2016---visitors.pdf" target="_blank">Savills 12 Cities Report H2/2016</a>.
Savills is a leading global real estate service provider offering the full spectrum of services from strategic advice to managing assets and projects and transacting deals. To learn more about Savills, visit <a href="https://www.savills.com.au" target="_blank">savills.com.au</a>.
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Swelling visitor numbers pose opportunities for global cities

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Hoteliers the Grove family have bought back The Indian Ocean Hotel in Western Australia’s Scarborough from the receivers, shortly after it was put up for sale.
The family acquired it for an undisclosed sum, but it had been offered for about $18 million on a 7 percent yield when first put on the market more than a year ago, according to a report in The Australian Financial Review. 
The 59-room, 3.5-star hotel on Hastings Street in the city's north-western suburbs was being marketed by CBRE Hotels’ Ryan McGinnity and David Kennedy under instruction from the receivers and managers appointed, HLB Mann Judd (Insolvency WA). 
The marketing campaign closed on May 12.
The five-level, 59-room hotel includes Indi Bar and Bistro, and has hosted some of Perth’s best live music over the past two decades, including Rolling Stones, The Waifs, John Butler and Dave Hole.  
The hotel, built in 1972, was placed in the hands of receivers in April after the death of majority owner Bill Grove, said the AFR report. 
It was originally called the White Sands Hotel. The Grove family took over as managers in 1985 and renamed it the Indian Ocean Hotel in 1990.
Hotel owner Andrew Grove and CBRE’s selling agents declined comment to the AFR, but the paper cited a source close to the family as saying that "The property and business is now back in the hands of the family who have owned the property for over 30 years” and they are “excited to be in control of the business and property again”.
Located within the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authorities’ $57.4 million Scarborough Redevelopment Area, the Indian Ocean Hotel offers potential for future development, with a residential 160 zoning and additional special use as hotel. 
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