An artist’s impression of the Avani Hotel Wollongong, due to open in 2027. Photo: Supplied.
An international hospitality group plans to open its first NSW hotel in Wollongong in 2027.
Avani Wollongong Hotel, a brand of the Minor Hotels group, will be at 22 Kenny Street.
It will anchor a major mixed-use development on the site of the former Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation, by local developer Blaq Property Group.
Wollongong City Council approved the development in July 2024. However, Blaq has since made further applications to increase the number of guest rooms from 107 to 140, which is currently under assessment.
The hotel will feature a ground-floor restaurant that will serve fresh, locally inspired flavours while a flexible event space will cater for all occasions.
Minor Hotels is a global leader in the hospitality industry with more than 640 hotels, resorts and branded residences across 59 countries.
Minor Hotels Australasia CEO Craig Hooley said Avani Wollongong would be the first Avani-branded property in NSW.
“It will bring a breath of fresh air to this vibrant south coast city,” he said.
“This development will fill a much-needed gap in new hotel growth in Wollongong and the Illawarra.
“The hotel is set to become part of the region’s next chapter, offering a world-class, contemporary stay for business and pleasure that delivers upscale positioning in a growing urban destination.”
Minor Hotels worked closely with Destination Wollongong to ensure the hotel aligns with the region’s long-term tourism strategy and supports major events.
Destination Wollongong general manager Jeremy Wilshire said having an internationally recognised brand commit its name and expertise was a genuine vote of confidence in Wollongong’s trajectory.
“It also marks an early step towards the NSW Government’s goal of delivering an additional 40,400 hotel rooms by 2035 and Wollongong is well placed to be a key contributor,” he said.
The announcement comes only weeks after the NSW Government committed $17 million towards the redevelopment of the WIN Entertainment Centre and Stadium.
At the time, Mr Wilshire said the funding commitment should encourage developers to address the shortage of hotel accommodation in the city.
“Hotels absolutely work hand in hand in terms of demand,” he said.
“We want the events, but we also have to have the capacity to host them and to host events of a scale that the region deserves.”
