A mammoth facelift for Jupiters Hotel & Casino will lift Gold Coast’s rep as a top global tourist destination.

The spotlight will shine on the region in 2018 when the transformation is complete, just in time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, according to Echo Entertainment Chairman, John O’Neill AO.

At a ceremony for the new six-star 17-storey hotel tower to be built in front of the existing hotel, O’Neill said the development would make the Gold Coast and Queensland justifiably proud.

The tower, comprised exclusively of luxury hotel suites, will also showcase new signature bars and restaurants, private gaming rooms and butler service, and will make up the centrepiece of Echo Entertainment’s $345 million investment in the Jupiters property.

“We are committed to positioning Jupiters as a world-class integrated resort and assist in the exciting transformation of the Gold Coast before, during and after its hosting of the 2018 Commonwealth Games,” O’Neill said.

“Our six-star hotel tower has a construction completion date that will ensure its readiness for the Commonwealth Games. The tower will offer new levels of luxury and only the best in finishes and amenities, not to mention six-star service.”

Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, joined O’Neill, Echo Entertainment ceo Matt Bekier, and Echo Entertainment md for Queensland Geoff Hogg, to celebrate a development that will help generate more than 1000 jobs.

“This project is a celebration of the Gold Coast,” Bekier said.

“To that end, we have been working with local designers and international architects to ensure it will resonate with the local community while also driving broader domestic and international appeal.

“These are exciting times for the Gold Coast and we’re delighted to be playing what we believe will be a key role in advancing the growth of tourism and jobs creation in the region.”

But not all is sunshine and rainbows on the sunny Gold Coast, with Echo expressing its disdain for plans for a second casino in the region.

As owners of the Gold Coast’s only casino, Echo is clearly not fans of the idea of competition in their own backyard.

The Queensland government has announced an integrated resort and casino has been earmarked for a five-hectare site near Sea World on the Gold Coast’s Spit.

Echo’s Bekier says his preference wouldn’t be to have a second casino in the area.

The new casino proposal is an alteration to the plans initially put up by Chinese developer ASF Consortium.

Originally proposed as a casino on Wavebreak Island with a cruise ship terminal at the Spit, the redesigned plans were announced earlier this month after the new state government had knocked back the cruise ship terminal idea.

Bekier believed his company was offering the most attractive solutions for Queensland’s economy.

“You have to think about the global competition for the tourists that we’re after,” he said.

“As we stand here today there’s more than $1.2 trillion worth of tourism infrastructure under development, we’re not the only people that are competing for that tourism opportunity.

“We believe firmly that you need to be able to pitch what you’re doing at a certain standard and that’s what we’re doing.”

Bekier also rebuffed the suggestion licensing approval for 1000 poker machines at the supposedly high-end Queen’s Wharf development undermined that status.

“We’re building five hotels, 1100 hotel rooms, that should tell you that this is all about tourism and additional visitors,” he said.

“Yes, we need gaming capacity to serve these visitors.”

Hogg provided further detail on the tower, saying some suites will boast three or four bedrooms and each will embrace the best of the Gold Coast, with large balconies and captivating city views. An exclusive, high-end lounge bar will also overlook the infinity edge pool

“The Gold Coast’s reputation as a must-visit destination continues to strengthen with both leisure and business travellers, so we are working to create a broad offering that will help to support this well into the future,” he said.

“We are also creating spaces that cater to the specific needs of individual travellers with some suites to include home offices, extra family rooms, theatres or even private karaoke parlours.”