What was to be a 153-room voco on the Sunshine Coast is now slated to be a 180-room Crowne Plaza Maroochydore – with over 770m2 of event space.
To be developed by Felix Capital, the property is located on Ocean St in Maroochydore.
“We worked closely with Felix Capital to reimagine this opportunity, thinking strategically about the elements that will create the best outcome for the hotel and the Sunshine Coast region,” said IHG’s managing director for Australasia and the Pacific, Matt Tripolone.
“Through discussion and feedback, it became clear that there was real value in delivering a hotel that puts conferences and events at its core as well as delivering an exceptional guest experience.
“We’re proud to support Felix Capital’s vision to deliver an incredible asset that will draw people to the region for business, leisure and everything in between.”
As part of its business events offering, the hotel will have a 600m2 ballroom.
“The response to our original vision was overwhelmingly positive, and securing additional land gave us the chance to think bigger,” said Felix Capital director, Michael Maroun.
“With Crowne Plaza at the heart of this development, we can now create a space that truly meets the needs of the region, particularly in the conferencing and events space.
“We’re confident this hotel will not only attract events and activations to the Sunshine Coast but also elevate the broader visitor experience and boost the region’s appeal as a year-round destination.”
Other features of the hotel include a 210-seat all day restaurant and a 160-seat signature restaurant, an outdoor pool bar alongside the 30m pool and a lobby bar. A gym, sauna and wellness retreat will also be part of the package.
Construction on the hotel is expected to start in early 2026, with a hotel opening expected in 2028.
IHG is making significant in-roads into the Sunshine Coast accommodation market. It opened a Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Maroochydore in the first half of 2022 and has another Holiday Inn and Suites property planned for Caloundra, with a targeted opening in 2030.
