Ringwood will become home to Australia’s second AC Hotels by Marriott property after the hotel giant signed a new management agreement as part of a newbuild development set to go up in the Victorian capital’s eastern suburbs.
The 200-room hotel will be part of ‘East End’, a mixed-use complex overseen by local developer Sunstone Projects which is forecast to open in 2024. The new precinct will feature a mix of residential and commercial developments along with lifestyle and recreation facilities close to the Dandenong Mountains and Yarra Valley.
Among the hotel room contingent will be 195 rooms and five suites. True to the brand’s Spanish heritage, an all-day Spanish restaurant will feature on-site, alongside a bar serving snacks. Guests can access a frequently-restocked grab-and-go bar loaded with refreshments including cold drinks.
Other facilities will include an indoor heated swimming pool, fitness centre and a co-working centre. The meetings industry will also be catered to with 354 square metres of meeting and event venue across a variety of flexible spaces.
Marriott International Area Vice-President, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Sean Hunt, said the AC Hotels brand signified “a new wave of expansion” for Marriott outside of CBD locations and into emerging regional centres.
“In Australia, we’ve seen a rise in domestic travel and travel to destinations outside the main cities, which is driving demand for quality accommodation in more regional or suburban areas. Victoria is no exception, and we’re excited to introduce this tailored hotel experience to Ringwood.”
“The AC Hotels by Marriott brand is renowned globally for its refined approach to design and its European-inspired touches, and we know it will be an exciting addition to the East End development and Ringwood area,” added Marriott International Senior Director of Hotel Development, Richard Crawford.
The signing follows the initial market entry, announced last July, of AC Hotels by Marriott into Australia via a development currently under construction at the inner-city urban renewal site of Fisherman’s Bend which will also feature 200 rooms.