Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) has signed an agreement with KS Hotels & Resorts to introduce AC Hotels to the Gold Coast.
Following an extensive makeover and bold repositioning, with a full hotel renovation slated to commence later this year, the property is expected to open in mid-2026. It will be the first AC Hotel in Queensland, and the second AC Hotel in Australia alongside AC Hotel Melbourne Southbank.
“Marriott International celebrated a record-breaking year in 2024 with an outstanding number of signings in Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC), underscoring the region’s immense growth potential. We are particularly excited by this latest signing which will enhance our growing our expanding Marriott Bonvoy portfolio and offer an exceptional experience in a globally recognised destination, following a substantial refurbishment and re-opening ahead of the 2026 Summer. We anticipate having 50 hotels open across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific by the end of 2027, three of which will be in the Gold Coast - a major growth location for our portfolio”, said Tristan Cooper, Director Hotel Development, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific at Marriott International.
Located in the heart of Surfers Paradise against the backdrop of the Nerang River, AC Hotel Gold Coast will be an upscale lifestyle hotel for design-savvy travelers looking for a stylish and inviting base for exploring the Gold Coast– known as “Australia’s playground”.
Following a conversion of the current property, Vibe Gold Coast, the hotel is expected to feature 202 guest rooms, all-day dining restaurant, AC Store, a lively AC Lounge and bar, swimming pool, gym, plus a 120-person meeting and events space.
With 235 open properties globally and over 170 in the pipeline, AC Hotels’ philosophy is to deliver elegant, purposeful design with flexible spaces and carefully crafted signature moments. The AC Hotel experience enables guests to be more productive, creative and fulfilled, whether they’re traveling for business or leisure.
“We are thrilled to collaborate again with KS Hotels & Resorts following their latest acquisition in Australia, and we are excited to expand our growing footprint on the Gold Coast. It is a market we know exceptionally well, through our long-standing operation of two of the city’s highest-performing resorts. Importantly, AC Hotel Gold Coast will offer our loyal guests, particularly our 228 million Marriott Bonvoy members, a new price point and product offering. The power of Marriott International’s leading distribution platforms is fueling exciting interest from hotels owners eager to rebrand existing hotels and benefit from Marriott’s unmatched global reach. In fact, close to 40 percent of our global hotel signings in 2024 across APEC were existing hotels seeking to join our portfolio to maximize their competitive advantages and future proof their success.” said Richard Crawford, Marriott International’s Vice President Hotel Development, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific.
AC Hotel Gold Coast will join Marriott International’s two iconic resort properties on the Gold Coast, JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa and Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast. The company has previously announced signed agreements to debut their world-renowned luxury brands, including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, and The Luxury Collection brands to the Gold Coast.
About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of over 9,300 properties across more than 30 leading brands in 144 countries and territories. Marriott operates, franchises, and licenses hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy, its highly awarded travel platform.
About AC Hotels by Marriott
AC Hotels includes over 235 hotels in 33 countries and territories. At AC Hotels, every moment has been designed, refined, crafted, and considered to create a seamless guest experience. Each AC Hotel features purposefully designed signature spaces that strike the perfect balance of form and function. Most notably, the AC Lounge invites guests and locals alike to collaborate during the day, or to enjoy signature cocktails and tapas in the evening. The AC Kitchen offers a European-inspired breakfast each morning. All AC guest rooms and public spaces evoke a particular sophistication, featuring sleek furnishings, curated artwork, and intuitive technology. The brand is dedicated to the details that matter most to guests during their travels with a mission to deliver The Perfectly Precise Hotel experience.
 Located in the heart of Surfers Paradise, the property will become the second AC Hotel in Australia and joins Marriott International’s growing portfolio on the Gold Coast |
