The Sunshine Coast has just received its first full-service internationally branded hotel in more than 40 years, upping accommodation capacity by 180 rooms for the popular coastal destination.
Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel officially opened on 11 May 2026, welcoming its first guests to the 12-storey property and adding a much-needed injection of room inventory for the high-demand leisure and business destination.
The 4.5-star Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel adds to the Sunny Coast’s limited supply of full-service hotel accommodation and represents a significant addition to Queensland’s tourism infrastructure.
Developed, owned and operated by Queensland’s KPAT Hotels under a franchise agreement with Bangkok-based Minor Hotels, the new build features a 12th-floor rooftop pool and multiple dining venues, including Sully’s Rooftop, which opens to the public on 15 May 2026, followed by First Avenue Cellar & Bar after the hotel launch.
With a location just 100 metres from the beach, guests can also enjoy the onsite AvaniSpa and AvaniFit, meeting spaces and a wedding venue with ocean views.
Rooms vary from 27sqm to 45sqm with ocean or hinterland views and include interconnecting options for families and groups.
The much-anticipated hotel was originally slated to open in 2025 and follows the recent opening of Minor Hotels’ Avani Living Queen’s Wharf Residences in Brisbane City.
KPAT Hotels Managing Director Kenneth Wagner said the opening moves the conversation around accommodation supply into delivery.
“There has been ongoing discussion about the need for new hotel development in Queensland, particularly in the lead-up to 2032,” he said.
“As a Queensland-based developer-builder-owner-operator, we have invested with a long-term view of the Sunshine Coast. This is about strengthening the region’s ability to attract higher-yield leisure travellers, business events and year-round visitation.”
Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) CEO Natassia Wheeler said new hotel development is critical as the state prepares for increased visitation.
“Queensland is facing a well-documented shortage of hotel rooms, particularly as we look ahead to 2032 and beyond,” she said.
“Developments such as Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel play a direct role in strengthening the state’s visitor economy and ensuring Queensland remains competitive.”
KARRYON UNPACKS: The opening of Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel gives travel advisors a new Sunshine Coast accommodation option to sell to clients and boosting room inventory for the popular leisure and business travel destination.
