Construction has commenced on the new-build Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sunshine Coast in the heart of Maroochydore, Queensland.

Led by global investment firm Pro-invest, the nine-storey development will feature 181 rooms, conference and function facilities, a rooftop swimming pool, a bar and dining venue and a ground-level retail space.

Pro-invest co-CEO Jan Smits said the hotel will bring a new level of accommodation to Maroochydore CBD.

“We believe Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sunshine Coast is a great addition to Maroochydore, particularly as the region transitions from a largely leisure-based to a more diversified market with major growth in businesses establishing themselves in the city centre to take advantage of the large-scale infrastructure projects currently underway,” he said.

“The Holiday Inn Express brand is ideal for the destination as its midscale positioning will make it highly-suitable for targeting business, meetings and leisure travellers.”

The hotel will have a strong commitment to sustainability, becoming the first hotel on the Sunshine Coast to achieve a five-star rating under the National Australian Built Environment Rating System.

Construction is scheduled to be complete in May 2022.