Melbourne, 29 July 2015 – Real estate investment, development and management company Pacific Group of Companies has unveiled plans for a significant expansion of its Pacific Epping Shopping Centre that will include the development of a landmark hotel.
CBRE Hotels has been appointed to source a national or international operator for the planned Pacific Epping Hotel, which is forecast to be completed by March 2017.
The four-level hotel will be located on the corner of High Street and Cooper Street, a few minutes from Melbourne’s new wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market and about 20 kilometres north of the Melbourne CBD.
Pacific Group of Companies’ Mr David Tuckett said the development formed part of a broader expansion of the Pacific Epping Shopping Centre.
“The aim is to create a leading shopping, dining, entertainment and accommodation experience catering to the wider northern Melbourne communities and travelers to the region,” Mr Tuckett said.
Designed by The Buchan Group, the Pacific Epping Hotel will be located at the centre of the shopping centre and will have an overall gross floor area of approximately 9,950 sqm
It will offer 112 spacious guest rooms with lobby, restaurant, car parking, an entertainment floor (with a bowling alley and bar with entertainment areas) and associated hotel facilities.
Oscar Westerlund, a Senior Director of the CBRE Hotels Strategic Solutions team, will steer the operator selection process.
Mr Westerlund said the hotel was expected to attract patronage from nearby hospitals and medical centres, travellers visiting family and friends in the area and corporate guests from nearby businesses in the northern suburbs.
“The hotel will service the north eastern corridor of Melbourne's fast growing metropolitan area which is currently lacking quality accommodation to service both corporate and leisure travellers,” Mr Westerlund said.
“The many dining, retail and entertainment options at Pacific Epping will add amenity to the hotel to enhance the guest experience.”
The Pacific Epping shopping centre comprises over 215 stores, including a choice of three quality supermarkets as well as an extensive dining and entertainment precinct
The centre is located about one kilometre from the Epping railway station and is adjoined by The Northern Hospital, one of Melbourne’s major acute treatment centres, which treats almost 70,000 patients annually and is anticipated to expand.
Mr Westerlund said management or lease options were available for the planned hotel, which would be upper midscale to upscale depending on the operator and brand selected.
“The new Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Markets are due to open on August 3 and will bring a much needed economic stimulus to Melbourne's north with 600 direct market businesses and another 3,000 businesses indirectly utilising the new $600 million facility,” Mr Westerlund said.
“This is one of the largest infrastructure projects being undertaken in Victoria and its proximity to the Pacific Epping Shopping Centre will be one of the draw cards for hotel operators, as will the centre’s broad range of existing dining and entertainment facilities.”
The hotel will also offer easy access to public transport and access to Tullamarine Airport via the freeway.
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