First Aerotropolis Hotel Operator Revealed

A development consortium will develop its first hotel after inking a deal with Marriott International for Sydney Aerotropolis’ first hotel.

The $70-million, 200-key Courtyard by Marriott Western Sydney Airport will be developed and owned by 1990 Developments, which is jointly controlled by construction materials and development firm Maas Group and developer Gibb Group.

Hassell Architects will design the hotel, which is planned to include 200 hotel rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, cafe and bar, a gym, meeting rooms and a ballroom events space. 

Gibb Group managing director Matt Gibb said Marriott had been awarded the long-term hotel management agreement following a competitive operator selection process.

“We have been developing commercial, industrial and large format retail property for more than 12 years and are now very excited about being a new entrant to the hotel sector,” Gibb said. 

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Marriott International on our first development and look forward to expanding our involvement with this market-leading company.”

The region’s first international hotel is slated for completion in 2026 when the Western Sydney International Airport is expected to open.

Gibb Group’s national director of development Matthew Thiselton said the group aimed to work with Hassell to develop a “most recognisable, yet functional hotel that Sydney’s travellers will benefit from”.

“We look forward to being a part of delivering what is likely to be the first hotel servicing the Western Sydney International Airport,” Thiselton said.

Marriott vice president of hotel development in Australia Richard Crawford said the Western Sydney Aerotropolis was one of the most infrastructure projects in the country. 

“[The construction of the airport] will support around 28,000 jobs, and Western Sydney International Airport will operate with the benefit of no curfew and deliver much-needed increased passenger and freight capacity to Australia’s primary gateway city,” Crawford said.

“As the world’s largest hotel company, Marriott International operates more than 500 airport hotels across the globe. 

“It is an industry segment we know well and we are very confident that a new hotel, under our Courtyard by Marriott brand, will have outstanding prospects of long-term success.

“Courtyard by Marriott is our largest brand, with more than 1200 properties around the world, three open hotels in Australia, and five more in our local pipeline.”

The Western Sydney Aerotropolis is a multi-billion-dollar development to complement the upcoming Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek.

The new city, surrounding the under-construction Nancy-Bird Walton Airport, will include commercial, agricultural, industrial and residential development and is targeting tech-centric aerospace and defence companies as well as advanced manufacturers and agribusinesses.