Inside Asian Gaming

IAG AUG 2019年8月 亞博匯 28 “We own the site, the license is in perpetuity and it allows us quite a few slot machines and unlimited tables. The tax rate is competitive and if you look at migration into Australia it’s also one of the fastest growing areas. “So all the fundamentals were very attractive for us, it’s just that the property as it stood was looking very tired. The previous owners hadn’t spent very much money on it, but we believe in the market and we’re backing it with our investment.” Although The Star Gold Coast will be the smallest of the group’s three IRs once Queen’s Wharf opens in 2022, Bekier says it will provide a valuable point of difference that can complement the grandeur of its Brisbane development. “The Gold Coast is a very unique proposition,” he explains. “It’s the only IR of this type, up-scale, probably in the world where you can be within an hour of the city but you’re at the beach, you can see the beach from the property, you’ve got the biggest shopping centre in Southeast Queensland right next door … it’s an opportunity for us to diversify the experience and extend the trip length. We see Gold Coast and Brisbane working in tandem as the two components to keep people in Queensland.” Star isn’t done yet, either. In November last year, the company and its Chinese equity partners, Hong Kong jewelry giant Chow Tai Fook and property developer Far East Consortium, revealed their Gold Coast masterplan – an additional US$2 billion investment concept comprising four more towers on its Broadbeach site. The vision, Bekier says, is to offer guests a variety of hotel options at widely different price points in order to broaden its customer base. “China is now the largest source market for Australia and although it has slowed down a little bit lately, the long-term trends are compelling,” The Gold Coast is famous for its beaches 黃金海岸以其迷人的沙灘而著稱 COVER STORY