Hilton ahead of schedule

SEP 2010

Brookfield Multiplex expects the first tower of the Hilton Surfers Paradise to be completed in November.

The 32 level Boulevard Tower is now ‘topped out’ with the remaining work focusing on the exterior finish and apartment fit-outs. Construction on the 52-floor second tower is also ahead of schedule with a new level being built every four days.

Brookfield Multiplex construction and development managing director George Kostas, says the company was always confident the apartments would sell quickly.

More than $127 million in new deals has been secured since the project was relaunched in June 2009 with total sales in Hilton Surfers Paradise now topping $422 million.

“It’s right in the heart of Surfers Paradise; it’s the first brand-new facility of its type in almost a decade and the combination of the Hilton Hotel branded apartments is something that you don’t see very often in the Australian market and people have really taken to it,” says Kostas.

“You can buy an apartment as a private individual, have it as a holiday home or live here full-time and have full access to the hotel’s services – it’s not an offer you see every day.

“Sales rates are going extremely well – we’re very happy with the progress of sales. The west tower is completely sold – all 186 apartments – and the eastern tower we only have 35 left of the 224.

“So from where we were a year ago when we had 140 apartments to sell, we are well ahead of where we wanted to be.”

Hilton Worldwide Australasian vice-president Ashley Spencer, says it’s the first international branded property on the Coast.

“We’re very close and really excited to be here. The progress has been great, Brookfield has done a great job and the quicker they can open the quicker we can be here,” he says.

“It shows a lot of faith in the future of the destination. With hotels, we’re in it for the long run, we’re here for 30 or 40 years and it just shows the faith that ourselves and other organisations have got in the Gold Coast.”