Starwood Hotels to build new resort adjoining Clive Palmer’s Coolum property
Clive Palmer has a new a neighbour on the Sunshine Coast, whose arrival could complicate any plans the businessman might have to revive his beleaguered Palmer Coolum Resort.
Starwood Hotels, one of the world’s largest chains, will build a 220-room five-star Westin Resort and Spa on a beachfront parcel directly adjoining Palmer’s Coolum Resort, which is no longer taking bookings.
Due for completion in 2021, the resort and spa will be the first new five-star hotel to open on the Sunshine Coast in 27 years, and, in a vein similar to what the original Coolum resort once was, is pitching itself squarely as a luxury resort, spa and conference centre.
“There are limited resort and meeting offerings on the Sunshine Coast and with the closure of (the adjoining Palmer) property there’s even less options,” Starwood chief executive Sean Hunt said. “We’re filling a need.”
“There were hundreds of people employed in the area who are no longer, and we’ll be looking to fill that void.”
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