11 May 2026: KPAT Hotels has officially opened the Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel, delivering 180 new rooms to the Sunshine Coast and marking the first full-service internationally branded hotel to open in the region in more than four decades.
The 12-storey hotel was formally opened this morning by Kenneth Wagner, Managing Director of KPAT Hotels, alongside Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli, Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) CEO Natassia Wheeler, and representatives from Tourism and Events Queensland and Visit Sunshine Coast.
Developed, owned and operated by Queensland-based KPAT Hotels under a franchise agreement with Minor Hotels, the project represents a significant addition to the state’s tourism infrastructure at a time of long-term sustained demand growth.
Kenneth Wagner, Managing Director of KPAT Hotels, said the opening moves the conversation around accommodation supply into delivery.
“There has been ongoing discussion about the need for new hotel development in Queensland, particularly in the lead-up to 2032,” Wagner said.
“This project demonstrates that delivery is possible if you are prepared to look at processes and do things differently and re-examine the delivery model. We are bringing 180 new rooms online in a high-demand leisure destination at a time when additional capacity is needed.”
“As a Queensland-based developer-builder-owner-operator, we have invested with a long-term view of the Sunshine Coast. This is about strengthening the region’s ability to attract higher-yield leisure travellers, business events and year-round visitation.”
QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler said new hotel development is critical as Queensland prepares for increased visitation.
“Queensland is facing a well-documented shortage of hotel rooms, particularly as we look ahead to 2032 and beyond,” Wheeler said.
“Private investment is essential to meeting demand. Developments such as Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel play a direct role in strengthening the state’s visitor economy and ensuring Queensland remains competitive.”
The opening comes amid broader infrastructure investment across the Sunshine Coast, including the Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project, which will expand beachfront parkland, improve access and enhance coastal protection.
At the same time, the Sunshine Coast Airport is undergoing a $170 million terminal redevelopment, designed to accommodate increasing passenger numbers and support future domestic and international connectivity.
Together, these projects position the region for continued growth in visitation, events and tourism-related activity.
Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel adds to the region’s limited supply of full-service hotel accommodation, providing infrastructure to support both leisure and business demand.
Wagner said the broader impact of the project extends beyond the hotel itself.
“Hotels contribute to the wider economy through employment, supply chains and increased visitor spend,” he said.
“This project supports local producers, hospitality workers and tourism operators across the Sunshine Coast.”
The opening of Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel marks a key milestone for KPAT Hotels as it continues to expand its portfolio of accommodation and hospitality assets across Queensland.
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Jennifer Swaine | 0438952830 | jen@commspeople.au