Quest Apartment Hotels will manage a new-build 71-room apartment hotel being developed adjacent to Cronulla’s Shark Park, south of Sydney, as part of the AUD$1 billion Woolooware Bay Town Centre in the Sutherland Shire.

The announcement was made as the first day of the 2020 Australasian Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE), headline sponsored by Hostplus and Intrust Super, got underway at Hyatt Regency Sydney.

Set over three levels, Quest Woolooware Bay will include conference facilities, a gymnasium and an external garden terrace with views overlooking the home of the Cronulla Sharks NRL team, officially known as PointsBet Stadium.

Quest Apartment Hotels General Manager of Growth and Capital strategy, James Shields, said the company is delighted to bring the award-winning ‘feel of home’ to the thriving new waterfront precinct.

“Quest seeks to position itself in Australia’s best locations for the extended stay business traveller, so the opportunity to bring our brand to the Woolooware Bay Town Centre is significant,” he said.

“Just footsteps from Shark Park, we’re envisaging a large number of guests from the sporting industry, as well as fans.

“With such significant surrounding infrastructure and community, not to mention the amenity within the Town Centre itself, the requirement for high quality accommodation is clear, and this is what Quest Apartment Hotels does best.

An artist’s impression of Quest Woolooware Bay, next to Shark Park

“Quest is committed to working with the best developers and suppliers to deliver a premium product for our guests, so we are delighted to be involved in this project, in this area, allowing us to deliver a premium product for guests,” Shields said.

Quest Woolooware Bay is located less than a 30-minute drive from Sydney Airport and just a 25- minute drive to the Royal National Park, known for its picturesque coastal outlook, secluded beaches and walking trails. It will address a lack of short-term accommodation in the Sutherland area.

Designed by architects, Turner, the building will feature a subtly curved contemporary façade. Its interiors will be offset by textures, tones and materials all selected to enhance the archetypal ‘home away from home’ Quest experience.

“Large floor plans, spacious separate living and efficient modular design allows us to deliver in-room cooking, dining, laundry and entertainment for guests and create a true sense of home, whether it’s for a short or long stay,” Shields said.

It is expected the Sharks will host around 12 games per year at PointsBet Stadium, with Club CEO Dino Mezzatesta confident the Town Centre and new Quest Hotel will become an attraction for travelling NRL fans.

“Having Quest Hotels and Apartments, an extremely reputable brand in the accommodation industry, as a part of the Woolooware Bay Town Centre will be a tremendous asset for not only the Sutherland Shire in general, but also for the Sharks. It will provide the perfect accommodation option for visiting NRL teams and their fans,” Mezzatesta said.

The announcement of Quest Woolooware Bay comes after Quest unveiled plans for a property at Queensland Investment Corporation’s (QIC) Watergardens in Melbourne’s north-western suburbs earlier in 2020.

“We look to establish properties in amenity-rich locations where corporate travellers need and want to be, so aligning with shopping centres is a logical strategy and one we will continue to deploy,” Shields said.