Australia’s Gold Coast is to welcome a new Hilton hotel this year, coming just after the region substantially renovated and extended its airport.
The Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel and Residences will open later this year with 170 luxury hotel rooms and 340 apartments. The mix-use project will consist of a 32-storey Boulevard Tower, which will be entirely residential, and a 57-storey Orchid Tower with both residential and hotel suites. There will also be a shopping emporium on the street level.
The Queensland region is not only a major leisure destination, but one of Australia’s leading resorts for corporate meetings and incentives. In 2007, it played host to an 8,000 strong incentive programme from Amway China.
Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta has also undergone a major revamp that has more than doubled its terminal size.
The new terminal has a single check-in area for all airlines with 36 check-in counters as well as self-service kiosks. There will be a single baggage collection and screening point along with one joint departures and arrivals area.
There are extra check-in facilities for oversize baggage, given the region’s popularity for surfers and golfers. Facilities to handle international arrivals’ has been doubled as have inspection facilities. There will be a common screening area for all departures, with an additional screening point for departing international travellers.
Retail and food and beverage outlets have also been modernised and currency exchange counters are now available both landside and airside. The duty-free area for international travellers has been increased by almost one third.
Coolnagatta now also has full transit facilities for travellers with international connections.
For more details, visit www1.hilton.com visit and www.goldcoastairport.com.au
Kenny Coyle
