Beach-front hotel a step closer

21 June 2018

The development of a world-class hotel and activity precinct on Albany's iconic Middleton Beach has moved into the highly anticipated phase of seeking expressions of interest from prospective State, national and international hotel developers.

The State Government, through LandCorp, has completed the first stage of civil works at the 13,171sqm Middleton Beach Activity Centre, which features four mixed-use sites including a 3,718sqm mixed-use hotel precinct up to 12 floors with potential for up to 120 hotel rooms plus apartments. 

With the hotel site already offering the rare opportunity of beach frontage in a popular tourist destination, as a further sweetener developers who participate in the hotel EOI can also express their interest in any of the three other mixed-use sites as part of their submission.   

The EOI process, being run by specialist hotel agency CBRE, follows a successful hotel operator EOI recently that saw high-end hotel chains declaring their interest in operating a hotel on Middleton Beach.

Securing interest from big-name hotel brands has reinforced the attractiveness of the Middleton Beach development, and has the potential to provide the successful developer with a compatible project partner.

"The Middleton Beach Activity Centre development is focused on creating an energetic community hub to complement this already popular destination, with a new premium hotel having the potential to attract many more tourists, business visitors, and recreational enthusiasts to Albany,” Lands Minister Rita Saffioti said.

"We are seeking expressions of interest from developers who are excited about the unique opportunity available at Middleton Beach, and who will create a hotel precinct that reflects Albany's natural beauty, history and culture."

Albany MLA Peter Watson said the development would boost local jobs.

"Subject to the outcome of the hotel developer EOI, construction of the new development is expected to create more than 120 short-term jobs and when it is complete will launch hundreds of new employment opportunities in the region's growing hospitality and tourism industry," he said.

City of Albany Mayor Dennis Welcome welcomed the announcement of the EOI process and said the City would continue to work closely with the State and Landcorp to get the best outcome for Albany.

“We need a hotel development like this in Albany and the site at Middleton Beach is unique so we’re hopeful there will be plenty of interest and the development can proceed as it will be a huge benefit to tourism and our economy,” he said.

The first stage of the hotel developer EOI runs from today (June 20) until Thursday July 17, 2018. Submissions will be assessed against selection criteria and short-listed proponents will then be offered the opportunity to submit more detailed proposals, as part of a Request for Proposal process from which a preferred developer will be selected.

For more information, visit http://www.landcorp.com.au/middletonbeach