Developer Prioritises First Melbourne Marriott in 20 Years over Apartment Sales

Melbourne-based developer Capital Alliance has intended to break a 20-year drought by delivering Australia’s first new-build Marriott hotel.

The hotel will be included in the developer’s proposed $250 million mixed-use Docklands project at Waterfront Way, and will move ahead even if the residential component of the development remains unsold.

Capital Alliance founder Mohan Du said the proposed project would be a landmark for Melbourne and international tourism, but added that he was planning to prioritise the new Marriott over the other aspects of the development, which is set for construction later this year.

“Our vision is to deliver a hotel and apartment project that will be celebrated and draw tourists both internationally and locally to the area,” he said.

[Related reading: Australian Hotel Sector Shines Brightest in North Queensland]

The development includes 200 hotel rooms and 160 residential apartments. Designed by DKO Architecture, the Docklands comprises two interlinked petal-shaped towers of 17-storeys that intersect with a vertical layer of landscape.

The hotel will operate under Marriott International’s flagship Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand.

At the end of 2017 it was reported that 4,500 new hotel rooms were planned across the city.

Mariott International senior development director for the Australia Pacific region, Richard Crawford dismissed talk of a hotel oversupply in the city, adding that recent figures showed rates and occupancies were still growing.

[Related reading: Twin-Tower Hotel Approved in Melbourne's Fishermans Bend]

Marriot International encompasses more than 4300 hotels in 81 countries and territories. There are more than 500 Marriott Hotels & Resorts worldwide.