Star looks to Attract Ritz-Carlton brand to Sydney

Based on the official press launch (pdf) from Star on Wednesday…

The proposal for the hotel and homes tower will be located inside the footprint of The Star Sydney casino and entertainment precinct, which includes Darling Harbour, the new Sydney International Convention Centre, The Bays Precinct and Sydney Fishmarket.

Multiple features:

Characteristics of the suggested hotel tower and ribbon development would be to include:

• 61 stories
• 220 six-star hotel rooms and 200 private apartments
• Around 15 extra food and drink outlets with a wide range of price points
• Resort amenities including rooftop terrace, three pools, two gyms, a spa and wellness center
• Hotel amenities including Sky Lobby, touch restaurant and event space
• Neighborhood Center including five levels with a social venture café and convention rooms
• Fiscal benefits to include about 1,000 construction jobs and 500 additional jobs once the land is up and running

Layout rights:

The rights to style the tower were procured in December 2016 by acclaimed architects FJMT, led by Richard Francis-Jones, after winning a Design Excellence Competition.

Chief Executive Officer for The Star Entertainment Group, Matt Bekier said…

“Forecasts suggest Australia’s current visitation of about 8.3 million global visitors per annum will rise to 15 million annually in a decade.

“To cater to that requirement, we need the essential tourism infrastructure. Sydney lacks adequate high-end hotels to fulfill this tide of global tourist demand, led from the fast expanding wealthy Chinese middle-class demographic. Australia currently brings just 1 percent of China’s global outbound travellers,” said Bekier.

Bekier further hauled, “We anticipate getting the essential approval, allowing us to proceed with Chow Tai Fook and Far East with whom we’re already partnering on transformational projects at Queen’s Wharf Brisbane and The Star Gold Coast.

Additional projects:

In March this year, Destination Brisbane Consortium, a joint venture of The Star Entertainment Group and Far East Consortium International and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, broke floor on its own AUD2.4 billion (US$1.8 billion) Queen’s Wharf Brisbane project, which has projected rolling opening, starting at the second half of 2022.