Oaks Hotels & Resorts moves into Northern Territory with acquisition of Oaks Elan Darwin

BackJul 29, 2015

Leading accommodation provider Oaks Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Minor International Pcl (MINT) and a division of Minor Hotel Group (MHG), is set to make its Australian Northern Territory debut, by announcing the acquisition of Elan Soho Suites, its first property in the territory’s capital city of Darwin, in a deal worth $57.1 million.

Rebranding as Oaks Elan Darwin, the 301-room hotel, which was completed in 2014, will officially launch on 1 September 2015, marking the 52nd property in operation for Oaks Hotels & Resorts. The opening will also see the company make its first foray into a sixth Australian state and territory as it expands its Australian presence, joining properties in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South and Western Australia in addition to its overseas properties in the UAE, Thailand and New Zealand.

Chief Executive Officer of Minor Hotel Group, Mr Dillip Rajakarier, said the acquisition of Elan Soho Suites comes as MHG continues to make strategic investments in Australia, “As part of our business expansion strategy both in Australia and abroad, we have been focused on accumulating quality assets in a number of regional locations alongside extending our portfolio of management properties in both city and resort destinations. Darwin has always been on our wish list and we are thrilled that Minor Hotel Group will now be represented in the Northern Territory.”

Since acquiring the Oaks brand in 2011, MHG has continued to grow the brand with major openings including Oaks Oasis on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in 2011, Cypress Lakes Resort by Oaks and its onsite Golf & Country Club in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley, in 2013, and the new-build Oaks Grand Gladstone and neighboring Grand Hotel, which opened in early 2014.

“The decision to purchase Elan Soho Suites in Darwin is a natural progression for the Oaks Hotels & Resorts brand as we continue to expand our foothold in key Australian markets. Darwin is a unique destination with strong demand from the corporate and government sectors, lending to its reputation as one of Australia’s most robust economies.”

“We also saw a major long-term growth opportunity with Darwin’s domestic leisure market, which grew more than 10 per cent over the past year. As a gateway to South East Asia, Darwin is also an increasingly popular destination with international visitors, so we welcome the opportunity to target these inbound overseas markets, underpinned by Minor Hotel Group’s strong international brand presence,” he said.

Located in the CBD, the 4.5 star Oaks Elan Darwin will rise over 27 floors and offer the choice of 301 hotel rooms, studios and one and two bedroom self-contained apartments.

Contemporary and spacious in design, apartments will feature kitchen and laundry facilities, cable television and Wi-Fi and expansive balconies overlooking the city and harbor. Hotel rooms are complete with tea and coffee making facilities, while studios feature kitchenettes and private balconies.

The acquisition also includes onsite restaurant, Seoul Food, a unique dining experience with fusion Korean cuisine, which will be open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Other leisure facilities include an outdoor pool and well-equipped gymnasium, while a dedicated onsite conference and event precinct located on mezzanine level will appeal to business delegates, offering the choice of six separate event spaces complete with modern technology and catering for up to 250 guests banquet style, 380 guests theatre style, or 410 guests cocktail style.

Oaks Elan Darwin is located just 17 minutes from the Darwin International Airport and is within close proximity to a number of local attractions, including the Darwin Entertainment Centre, Esplanade and Waterfront Precinct, Bicentennial Park and the city’s dining, entertainment and shopping hub.

Oaks Elan Darwin is also well placed for guests wanting to explore the Northern Territory’s unique tourist attractions including Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park, both of which are just under two hours’ drive from the hotel.

ABOUT OAKS HOTELS & RESORTS
Oaks Hotels & Resorts is one of Australia’s largest self-contained, accommodation providers, currently incorporating a portfolio of 51 properties spanning Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South and Western Australia as well as New Zealand, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

ABOUT MINOR INTERNATIONAL PCL.
Minor International (MINT) is a global company focused on three primary businesses including restaurants, hotels and lifestyle brands distribution. MINT is one of Asia’s largest restaurant companies with over 1,700 outlets operating system-wide in over 20 countries under The Pizza Company, Swensen’s, Sizzler, Dairy Queen, Burger King, Thai Express, The Coffee Club, Ribs and Rumps, BreadTalk (Thailand) and Riverside brands. MINT is also a hotel owner, operator and investor with a portfolio of 134 hotels and serviced suites under the Anantara, AVANI, Oaks, Per AQUUM, Tivoli, Elewana, Marriott, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Radisson Blu and Minor International brands in 22 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe and South America. MINT is one of Thailand’s largest distributors of lifestyle brands focusing primarily on fashion, cosmetics and contract manufacturing. Its brands include Gap, Banana Republic, Esprit, Bossini, Charles & Keith, Pedro, Red Earth, Tumi, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, ETL Learning and Mysale. For more information, please visit www.minorinternational.com.

Press Contacts: Chaiyapat Paitoon / Jutatip Adulbhan at Tel: (662) 365-7500

 


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