Australia Casino firm to build Non-Gambling Aquis Hotel

Every year, millions of tourists from all over the world visit Surfers Paradise, a picturesque beachfront strip in southeast Queensland. Earlier this year, a prominent Australia casino owner purchased a plot of land, and has just announced plans to build Aquis Australia, a non-gambling hotel and entertainment complex they expect will attract countless affluent visitors to the Gold Coast.

When Aquis Entertainment first acquired the property, with the help of a consortium of fellow, high-profile investors from Hong Kong, it was naturally assumed that owner Tony Fung would seek to construct a new Australia casino resort along the new beachfront property. Apparently, that’s not the case.

Aquis Australia, Haves and Have Nots

Aquis Australia unveiled the basic details of a $440 million project to erect a 48-story hotel complete with 580 luxury rooms and suites. It’s location is currently occupied by Pacific Point, an apartment complex that will soon be demolished to make way for the new project.

Along with opulent hotel accommodations, the complex will also feature a range of entertainment options. Those amenities are said to include everything from upscale restaurants and an Asian street-style food market, to an exclusive club, executive lounge and outdoor roof-top cinema. It will not, however, include any type of casino gambling.

Aquis Australia Will Perform Better w/o Casino

Tony Fung, Chairman of Aquis Australia, confirmed that an integrated casino resort is off the menu. Instead, he’s looking to develop the “first truly six-star beachfront hotel in Australia,” meant to “target ‘super luxe’ travellers from around the world.” He also pointed out that this is the only new hotel project in southeast Queensland of such elaborate size.

“Our goal was to create a hotel that would become a destination in itself, something that is instantly recognisable and synonymous with luxury,” said Fung. “The fact we have been able to secure this incredible site on the beachfront for the project will only enhance its attraction to domestic and international visitors.”

Fung’s company, which also owns Australia’s Casino Canberra, has been “very vocal” in its opinion regarding the high potential for Gold Coast “to expand into exciting new markets and attract a new generation of luxury traveler,” so long as the right level of opulence is provided. As Fung envisions, “facilities that match and exceed anything else the world has to offer.”

As for eliminating the concept of constructing yet another Australia casino resort, he said that strategic decision will give the Aquis a unique position in the market.

“Not all new visitors to Queensland will want to stay in a casino,” explained Fung. “Our project’s unique beachfront location will make the Gold Coast’s beautiful beaches the star attraction, not pokies.”

The Best Of The Best

Instead, Aquis Australia is being developed to attract visitors who want an ultimate experience at “the best restaurants, the best beaches, the best accommodation away from the hustle and bustle of the integrated resorts.”

The company spent the last year negotiating with the tenants Pacific Point, and was eventually able to secure ownership of all apartments to make way for demolition. When the new 48-story hotel is erected, it will provide a mixture of accommodations said to include luxury hotel rooms, suites, deluxe suites, super-deluxe suites and – of course – over-sized penthouse suites.