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Wyndham Surfers Paradise

Wyndham Hotel Group’s latest acquisition on the Gold Coast is a major boost for the city's sluggish tourism sector that has been hit by the high Australian dollar and stiff competition from near overseas destinations such as Bali, Fiji and Thailand.

The Wyndham Surfers Paradise, just one block from the beach, is the first Wyndham branded hotel in Australia and also the first mixed-use property resulting from the partnership between Wyndham Hotel Group and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific.

The acquisition gives the resort and the Gold Coast access to more than 43,000 timeshare members around the world, as well as 820,000 vacation ownership participants in the US.

While timeshares have high occupancy rates, Wyndham general manager of acquisitions and business development, David Wray, says more promotion of the Gold Coast is needed to attract visitors to the region.

“Increasing the demand for accommodation on the Gold Coast continues to be an issue for all operators,” said Mr Wray. “There is more accommodation coming on-line in the region which will potentially add pressure on existing hotels and resorts.

“Increasing the promotion of the Gold Coast as a tourism and conference destination needs to be a combined effort between operators and tourism bodies at a local, state and national level to attract both domestic and inbound visitors.”

In July Wyndham bought the management rights to developer Robert Badalotti's Azzura Hotel and Resort on the corner of Markwell Ave and Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise. The deal saw Wyndham acquire 40 of the 192 apartments in the $130 million Azzura development that was completed last year. The 40 apartments were transferred into Wyndham's vacation ownership club, WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham.

Wyndham's Gold Coast-based chief executive Barry Robinson said he had been looking for seven-and-a-half years to get something in the centre of the Gold Coast. He said Wyndham Surfers Paradise offered guests to the Gold Coast brand new centrally located accommodation.

“Wyndham Hotel Group is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies offering hotel owners and travellers a global solution,” he said.

The company is expanding rapidly throughout Asia, last year adding 67 new properties with 9050 rooms in the Asia Pacific region.

“A committed effort in the South Pacific will ensure the network is enhanced rapidly in this region,” said Mr Robinson. “I have no doubt that Wyndham Surfers Paradise will become a flagship property for our company and will be popular with both domestic and inbound guests travelling to the Gold Coast for leisure or business.”

Mr Wray said Wyndham was attracted to the building because it was actively expanding its hotel group portfolio and was particularly keen to have a network of properties in key tourism destinations and capital cities.

“Wyndham Surfers Paradise is a new development (less than 12 months old) with self-contained apartments in an ideal location in Surfers,” he said. “We are very proud to add Wyndham Surfers Paradise to our portfolio.”

Being a new building there is not a lot of development required but Mr Wray said the company intended to expand the restaurant and bar facilities to give it more of a Gold Coast identity.

The 17 storey, 192 apartment property features well appointed, one- and two-bedroom self-contained apartments with balconies, air-conditioning, broadband Internet, cable TV, clock radio, direct dial telephone, dishwasher, fully equipped kitchen, ironing facilities, LCD TV, microwave, private laundry, satellite TV with DVD player, washer and dryer.

Most rooms have ocean or river and hinterland views. Guests sleep on Sealy bedding which is the sole approved bedding supplier to Wyndham.

The resort has a sandy edged pool, gym, spa pool, barbecue entertaining deck, boardroom, lobby bar and cafe. The property has been acoustically designed ensuring a tranquil interior, while being in the centre of activity in Surfers Paradise. Wyndham Hotel Surfers Paradise offers a full range of independently operated dining options in the complex’s 800m² ground floor retail strip that includes a pizza outlet, Italian and Indian restaurants, a cafe and a hairdresser with more restaurants to come.

Wyndham Surfers Paradise's central location provides guests with easy access to all the sights and experiences on offer from theme parks, beaches, waterfalls and wineries to first class.

Wyndham is one of the Gold Coast's biggest employers with about 500 employees at its Bundall headquarters. The company is focused on career development for its employees offering a range of internal training and professional development opportunities.

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world's largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide offers individual consumers and business-to-business customers a broad suite of hospitality products and services across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges through its premier portfolio of world-renowned brands.

Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses approximately 7160 franchised hotels and about 606,800 hotel rooms worldwide. In the South Pacific region, Wyndham Hotel Group manages and/or franchises hotels under the brands of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Ramada, Ramada Encore, Super 8, Days Inn, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham.

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