Dreamworld Resort

[blurrybilly]

ARDENT Leisure has unveiled a $75 million plan for a new hotel and tourist park – Dreamworld Resort.

In an announcement to the ASX this morning, the theme parks operator said it had appointed accommodation developer Evolution Group to fund and build an accommodation precinct on part of the surplus land owned by Ardent next to the Dreamworld park.

The accommodation offering will include a 4-star 250 room resort-style hotel, 40 bungalows and a 5-star tourist park with 100 powered sites.

The news follows revelations last week that Village Roadshow had reignited its plans for a hotel at Movie World, lodging a trademark application that reveals its likely branding for the nine-storey, 398-room landmark.

IP Australia records show Village Roadshow applied for a trademark for “Hotel V” at the end of March. It is pending registration.

 

The idea of a resort at Dreamworld has been around for more than a decade, with former CEO Noel Dempsey hinting at the project in 2010, and former operators Macquarie Leisure Trust including it in its “complete entertainment precinct” proposal in 2013.

Ardent said its Dreamworld Resort would be designed to cater to all guests, especially interstate travellers, with a broad range of family friendly accommodation options, as well as restaurants, conferencing facilities and leisure facilities such as swimming pools and a gymnasium.

Guests of Dreamworld Resort will also have exclusive offers to access Dreamworld and WhiteWater World throughout their stay.

The agreement is currently non-binding and subject to the satisfaction of a number of preconditions, however both parties are optimistic that final terms for the project will be

agreed in the near future.

“The hotel and tourist park will complement Dreamworld as a premium entertainment destination and add a new level of convenience for guests who will have our theme park and water park on their accommodation’s doorstep,” said Dreamworld CEO, Greg Yong.

“This announcement is another positive step in the recovery of our parks post-COVID and will have a significant economic impact not only for Dreamworld, but also for the northern

Gold Coast, one of Australia’s fastest growing regional corridors.

“The project will create employment within the local community and contribute to the regeneration of tourism on the Gold Coast.”

Evolution Group is headed by John Robinson Jr, son of John ‘Foxy’ Robinson, who together recently opened the Gold Coast Airport Rydges Hotel.

“They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the project and understand the needs of the local community and travellers in relation to destination tourism projects,” Mr Yong said.

“Relying on an experienced partner to execute this project will also allow the Dreamworld team to continue focusing on future investments in the theme park’s attraction portfolio, including the launch of Steel Taipan in late 2021.”

 

Mr Robinson said he was excited to take on the project.

“The Evolution Group team is a family company providing over 2200 rooms around Australia through our resorts and accommodation houses,” he said.

“Having Australia’s favourite theme park on the doorstep of this development will certainly provide guests with action-packed getaways.”

Dreamworld and developer Evolution Group will work closely with local and State

authorities to obtain the requisite planning approvals.

Ardent Leisure said it continued to explore options to maximise the value of all of its surplus land.

Planning documents reveal the Movie World development will include 32m high, nine-floor “theme park hotel” with 398 suites which is earmarked for land currently occupied by its northernmost carpark fronting Entertainment Drive.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/gold-coast/ardent-leisure-unveils-plans-to-build-75m-dreamworld-resort-at-its-gold-coast-theme-park/news-story/e43a819ca1fc5062d950826c725e8097

Edited May 5, 2021 by blurrybilly

[Mc coaster]

This is very interesting news from ardent. I wonder if this was just announced due to the rumours coming from VRTP. I can’t wait to see what’s in store.

[Pyro]

The addition of an RV and Camp site is a very smart idea. Dreamworld have had this in the works of a number of months, with a former high level manager stepping down to focus on other projects for the park. Them the whispers

[joz]

I mean as a theme park fan it's better than residential. I've never been big on places that try to be both a resort and a tourist park at the same time, but I guess there is a market for that sort of thing or those places wouldn't have popped up everywhere.

 

You'd have to assume this will be in the Lagoon corner of the property, so here's an idea for the cheapest easiest slam dunk in the history of theme park hotels: Build a train station connecting to the park. If Dreamworld wants this to be a family theme park resort, build it so it's got a unique theme park selling point with some creativity. There will be 3 or 4 theme park hotels on the Gold Coast in very near future. What makes yours special?

[Brad2912]

Another day, another theme park hotel...

[sansborgor]

Next it'll be the bloody Wax Museum..

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

The 'tourist park' is a great idea. 

The caravan industry has exploded during covid - wait times for new vans have blown out - so there's going to be lots of holidaying families preferring to park their van, rather than hire a room.

It's smart, IMO.

[Pyro]

13 minutes ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

The 'tourist park' is a great idea. 

The caravan industry has exploded during covid - wait times for new vans have blown out - so there's going to be lots of holidaying families preferring to park their van, rather than hire a room.

It's smart, IMO.

Correct, it also allows them to compete with places like BIG4. Look at BIG4 at Sandstone point, its has the cabins, bungalows and camp site is has been almost fully booked the past 6 months. 

[Naazon]

A Tourist park is also a lot quicker to build and I'm assuming planning permission would be easier too. Possibly a "Stage 1" thing, beating VRTPs hotel too.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

2 hours ago, Pyro said:

Correct, it also allows them to compete with places like BIG4. Look at BIG4 at Sandstone point, its has the cabins, bungalows and camp site is has been almost fully booked the past 6 months. 

Just like Big 4 Helensvale too - whose only real selling point is the close proximity to the theme parks, offers both cabins and campsites - and offers some really awesome waterpark facilities on site.

(I mean, the site floods too, but then - so does movieworld!)

23 minutes ago, Naazon said:

A Tourist park is also a lot quicker to build and I'm assuming planning permission would be easier too. Possibly a "Stage 1" thing, beating VRTPs hotel too.

100%. Amenities and facilities are still needed, but its a lot less than a multistorey hotel.

[Brad2912]

Ardent Leisure, owner of Dreamworld has dumped its $75m plans for a new hotel, tourist park

Dreamworld has dumped its plans for a $75m resort project after a breakdown in negotiations with the developer.

Parents company Ardent Leisure announced its plans for a new hotel and tourist park, Dreamworld Resort, in May.

The project was to be funded and developed by Gold Coast Airport Hotel developer Evolution Group on part of the surplus land owned by Ardent next to the Dreamworld park.

The accommodation offering was to include a 4-star 250 room resort-style hotel, 40 bungalows and a 5-star tourist park with 100 powered sites.

In an announcement to the ASX on Tuesday, Ardent said those plans were off the table.

“Since notifying the market earlier this year that a non-binding agreement had been entered into with developer Evolution Group to develop a resort style hotel and tourist park adjacent to Dreamworld the parties and their advisers have been engaged in negotiations, however they have been unable to reach agreement on key aspects of the proposal,” the statement said.

“As a consequence, the Company has ceased these non-binding negotiations.”

Ardent, which launched its $30m Steel Taipan roller coaster at Dreamworld just last week, said it remained committed “to exploring an on-site tourist accommodation offering at Dreamworld”.

“(The board) will now focus its attention on progressing the other available options, as well as continuing to explore opportunities to maximise the Group’s total surplus land holdings adjacent to the park,” the statement said.

“The company is optimistic that, with the Queensland border now re-open, the theme park business will benefit from increased visitation off the back of pent-up demand.”

https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/business/gold-coast-business/ardent-leisure-owner-of-dreamworld-has-dumped-its-75m-plans-for-a-new-hotel-tourist-park/news-story/f1f07f6274dfea8245ceadaef9146073

[Smol bean]

Can the Gold Coast have one theme park hotel that doesn’t get cancelled not counting sea world resort

Edited December 21, 2021 by Smol bean

[Gazza]

Just now, Smol bean said:

Can the Gold Coast have one theme park hotel that doesn’t get cancelled

Yes just one.

[Slick]

1 hour ago, Brad2912 said:

as well as continuing to explore opportunities to maximise the Group’s total surplus land holdings adjacent to the park,”

Euuuuuuuugh.