Following an expression of interest which closed over a year ago, CEL Australia will be the owner, developer and operator of the Darwin Convention Centre hotel, set to be built next door to the convention centre.
CEL Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of CEL Development, whose parent company Chip Eng Seng is listed on the Singapore stock exchange.
The hotel will operate under the Momentus Hotels & Resorts brand, which has one hotel and a serviced apartment property operating in Singapore.
The hotel is set to have 236 rooms and is expected to open towards the end of 2026.
“This project is great for tourism, especially in the area of conference travel, creating an extra 236 beds in Darwin,” said the Northern Territory’s chief minister, Eva Lawler.
“This project is also a win for workers in our hospitality and tourism industry, with positive flow-on effects for other local businesses such as tour operators and is another feather in the cap of the Darwin Waterfront area.”
CEL Australia won the contract for the hotel from a field of nine other competitors who expressed interest, including some of the best known international hotel brands, such as Marriott International, Accor, IHG, Radisson and TFE Hotels.
“CEL has developments and investments in Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia,” said CEL Darwin’s executive director Gallant Tang.
“We are delighted to further expand into the Northern Territory. “
CEL Australia’s completed and in-progress properties include commercial and residential and two hospitality ventures. The company is currently building the Hyatt Regency in Adelaide.
