26 Apr 2013
Couran Cove Resort on South Stradbroke Island will become part of the Ramada brand under a franchise agreement finalised this week with hospitality giant Wyndham Hotel Group, a part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE WYN).
Couran Cove Holdings will continue to manage the property.
The resort, purchased late last year by Brisbane businessman Craig Dowling of Couran Cove Holdings, has since been undergoing a major refurbishment.
“We will have the ability to take guests from July 1, 2013 and we will be advising all owners that they can join the letting pool if they refurbish their apartments,” said Mr Dowling.
“This is great news for Couran Cove and opens up a fantastic island holiday getaway destination with an internationally experienced hotel brand behind it,” he added.
“The Ramada brand has been selected after a long process, as being the brand we consider to be most suitable for the resort. In particular we are impressed with the high regard in which the Ramada brand is held both in Australia and throughout the world; the marketing capabilities of the organisation behind the Ramada Brand; the rapport that has already evolved with the Wyndham management; and the fact that the Australian head office for Ramada with its 680 strong staff is based right here on the Gold Coast,” said Mr Dowling.
In announcing the addition of this property to Wyndham Hotel Group's rapidly expanding portfolio, the Company's Managing Director in the South Pacific Barry Robinson said, “The Gold Coast continues to be an important and viable market that offers great opportunity for Wyndham Hotel Group and its brands and I'm delighted with the inclusion of this unique island resort into our growing Ramada portfolio.”
Ramada Couran Cove Island Resort will reopen fully in late September as a 350-room complex. Accommodation options include Waterfront Marine Suites, Lagoon Lodges and Villas offering sweeping views, as well as fully self-contained Holiday Cabins set within the natural serenity of the banksia rainforest.
Mr Dowling said Couran Cove's Spa Island and associated dining facilities had already re-opened with the restaurant operating on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each week.
“We have the marina open and operating and we will be launching our Marina Members Club shortly which will be exciting news for all the boaties on the Gold Coast,” he said.
Wyndham Hotel Group and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific currently own, manage, and franchise 25 properties across the South Pacific. Recent additions in Australia over the last three years include Wyndham on William (Melbourne CBD), Ramada Resort Phillip Island, Ramada Resort Port Douglas, Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre Marcoola Beach, Wyndham Resort Torquay and Wyndham Surfers Paradise.
The Ramada brand represents more than 800 properties in over 50 countries worldwide. Most Ramada hotels and resorts feature meeting rooms, business services and fitness facilities and an onsite restaurant.
“We are starting to bring the resort back to its originally intended grandeur,” said Mr Dowling.
“There's nothing else like it on the Gold Coast and the opportunity to be part of it will soon be available when we release the first of our residential product to the market. Where else in the world can you be sitting on a relaxed island with kilometres of unspoilt beaches and yet be only a 15-minute boat ride away from a major destination such as Surfers Paradise. It is truly unique,” he added.
For more information, please contact:
Paul Wilson
Promedia
T +61 7 5593 2011
Angie Christofis
Manager PR and Communications
Wyndham Hotel Group
T: +61 (0) 7 5512 8250
M: +61 (0) 0410 336 189
About Us
Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific develops, markets and sells Vacation Ownership interests in a network of 24 vacation ownership resorts in the Asia Pacific region and serves more than 46,000 vacation owners throughout Australia, New Zealand and Fiji in its WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham.
Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific is a division of Wyndham Vacation Ownership, part of Wyndham Worldwide, (NYSE: WYN) one of the world's largest hospitality companies. The Asia Pacific corporate office is located on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and employs more than 1,500 staff throughout the South Pacific. For more information about Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific, please visit www.wyndhamvrap.com
Wyndham Hotel Group, part of the Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN) family of companies, is the world's largest hotel company with more than 7,000 hotels and more than 600,000 rooms in 66 countries under the hotel brands: Wyndham® Hotels and Resorts, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate by Wyndham®, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham®, Hawthorn Suites® by Wyndham, TRYP by Wyndham™, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® in the USA and Knights Inn®. In addition, the company has a license agreement to franchise the Planet Hollywood Hotels, Dream® and Night® brands and provide management services globally.
