IHG Expands Sunshine Coast Presence with First voco Hotel

Sunshine Coast Welcomes New IHG voco Property

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), has announced the signing of the first voco hotel on the Sunshine Coast, partnering again with Sydney-based developer Felix Capital to open voco Maroochydore Sunshine Coast in 2028. Located on Ocean Street, the new 153-key upscale hotel will form part of a mixed-use development that is set to transform the city’s accommodation offering and attract domestic and international patronage.

voco Maroochydore will also address the Sunshine Coast’s recent Temporary Local Planning Instrument proposal in response to the need for four- and five-star full-service hotels in the region. With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games only eight years away, having the right mix of accommodation options will be crucial to deliver a successful Games and support the region’s economy beyond 2032.

Further complementing Maroochydore’s entertainment and dining precinct, guests will enjoy dazzling water views from lifestyle-led and locally inspired guestrooms, an extensive hospitality offering, and wellness-focused public areas including a picturesque podium-level outdoor pool, spa and sauna.

The hotel will feature an elevated hospitality offering, highlighted by a 140-seat speciality restaurant and a 65-seat lobby bar on the ground floor, both of which will have direct pedestrian access to the vibrant Ocean Street. Additionally, the hotel will accommodate corporate and private events with over 510 square meters of modern conference and event spaces in a stylish environment. This includes a ballroom that can host up to 250 guests, as well as a 130-seat all-day dining restaurant and a pool bar. This new venue aims to serve as a much-needed destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) business and tourism on the Sunshine Coast.

Cameron Burke, Director of Development, Australasia & Pacific, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for the Sunshine Coast. The region desperately needs new accommodation product, and hotel developments like voco Maroochydore will play a vital role in stimulating the local economy. We are excited to help enhance the enviable coastal lifestyle that Maroochydore locals enjoy, and to be expanding our presence on the Sunshine Coast by bringing our fast-growing voco brand to this key strategic market.

"We’re delighted to be extending our partnership with Felix Capital, and wholly support their vision to vitalise the Sunshine Coast ahead of its regional showcase to the world as part of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

The mixed-use development will also include nine luxury residences which will occupy Levels 10 to 12 above the hotel, however will not form part of the hotel’s operations.

Michael Maroun, CEO and founder of Felix Capital, said: “I’m thrilled to announce our second strategic partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts and see this innovative new hotel project come to life while creating hundreds of new jobs and showcasing the amazing attractions of Maroochydore. The voco brand is a perfect fit for what is set to be a vivid lifestyle destination on the Sunshine Coast, at a time of significant need for new hotels in the region.

Over the last few months we’ve worked closely with Sunshine Coast Council to ensure our plans for our second hotel in the Sunshine Coast are per their proposed Temporary Local Planning Instruments by accommodating leisure, corporate and commercial use. It’s energising to see that big steps are being made in the right direction for the region’s growth and we’re delighted to be part of its journey.”

From relaxing by the pool, to hosting an intimate wedding, the new development will offer ample reasons for guests from Queensland, Australia and abroad to choose voco Maroochydore as a destination of choice when planning getaways, events and conferences. Conveniently located just over an hour’s drive from Brisbane, the hotel will provide guests with an ideal base to experience the many delights this iconic coastal destination has to offer.

Marking IHG Hotels & Resorts’ continued expansion into regional Australia, the hotel will also showcase the attractive versatility of the global voco brand. voco hotels combine individualised service and high-quality touches, from indulgent amenities to blissful beds. The voco name, originating from the Latin ‘to invite’, represents the brand’s thoughtful, unstuffy and charming nature, where guests will always experience a warm welcome, simple check-in, an arrival gift, lively social spaces, and guest rooms with thoughtful comforts like cosy bedding, luxury bathroom amenities and fast Wi-Fi.

Launched in 2018 with the opening of voco Gold Coast in Australia, voco hotels has quickly become the fastest-growing brand within IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Premium collection with properties in 18 countries. voco Maroochydore is the latest signing in IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Premium portfolio and strengthens the brands growth momentum in Australia with five now in the pipeline, including voco Gosford which is set to open in 2025.

This is IHG Hotels & Resorts and Felix Capital’s second partnership, following the announcement in April 2024 of the signing of Holiday Inn & Suites Caloundra, Sunshine Coast which plans to open in 2030.