You can blame it on Langham Hospitality Group’s CEO, Stefan Leser, for opening a can of worms when he spoke of the exciting, yet confidential plans for the group in Australia, or you can lay it all at the feet of the Chief Sales and Development Officer, Simon Manning, who let the cat out of the bag by announcing the development of the Langham Gold Coast at this morning’s 2019 Pacific Sales Mission VIP Breakfast in Sydney.
Leser, in town all the way from Frankfurt for events in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, got this morning’s event off to an exciting start, stating “We have some exciting plans in Australia ahead of those reported in newspapers but not confirmed, and since the ink is not dry I can’t inform or deny the news, as we are in confident discussions and maybe we will finalise it in some shape or form this week.”
The beachfront Gold Coast hotel, slated to open at the end of 2020 or Q1 2021, will be the first luxury hotel on the Gold Coast for some 20 years, Manning revealed. Earlier this month, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported Langham Hospitality had been awarded management of the $1.4 billion, triple tower “Jewel” project.
“We will have the largest meeting space on the Gold Coast, 151 bedrooms and 160, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, which combined means 320 keys.”
Manning then joked how the Langham’s signature pink roses will change to pink gladioli’s and special spray tanning butlers would be employed.
Now on a roll, there was no holding him back on other secret plans, which include a luxury boutique resort project at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef – off Gladstone, the Langham Turtle Bay.
“There will be 58 villas, all with plunge pools, while up in the island’s hinterland we will have 12 wilderness tents – all opening in 2022,” he said.
But wait there’s more.
“It is our hope to be leading the hospitality industry in luxury properties, in Australia,” he said.
Overseas, Manning said Langham had closed its Boston landmark property for a significant redesign and restoration. The US$100 million overhaul will include all guest rooms, the lobby and restaurants.
“It’s an extensive renovation that will reinstate and reposition the hotel as one of the top historic luxury hotels in the country. It will reopen in July 2020,” Manning declared.
Further, CEO Leser also flagged at a travel media breakfast a new management agreement for a Langham in Jakarta next year.
by Jill Varley, LATTE Contributor