A new report has found that Melbourne Airport (Australia) has a clear demand for a fourth major hotel on site, reflecting the staggering physical growth the airport has undergone over the past ten years. Currently three major hotels exist on site at the airport: Hilton Melbourne Airport, Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport and Motel Formule 1.

The report was commissioned by Melbourne Airport to assess demand for an additional hotel, taking into account passenger growth projections as well as the current and planned developments within the airport's Business Park and nearby vicinity. The total market of hotels for the area in and around Melbourne Airport comprises less than 900 rooms, with an occupancy rate of over 75%, according to the report.

The report flagged the easily accessible location and curfew-free status of Melbourne Airport as important reasons for the establishment of an additional hotel, along with the need for capacity to serve recently increased on-site property developments as key reasons the airport would support an additional hotel development.

"The need for an additional hotel is a reflection of the major property development at Melbourne Airport over the past few years," said Gerard Neylan, Melbourne Airport's General Manager of Property Development. "Over 320,000 sq.m of commercial property has been developed since 2001 in the Melbourne Airport Business Park alone. We currently have a further 100,000 sq.m in construction or under negotiation. Melbourne Airport needs to provide the infrastructure - in this case accommodation, hospitality and conference facilities - to support this growth."

The last twelve months at Melbourne Airport has seen the opening of a new sales and service centre for Mercedes-Benz, two on-site child care centres and a soon to be completed International Freight Facility for Australian Air Express. Recent arrivals in the airport Business Park include distribution and warehouse facilities for retailer The Reject Shop, outdoor label Kathmandu and logistics specialists Caterpillar. Further plans are in place for two new petrol stations, a 160,000 sq.m bulky goods retail precinct and a new office complex.

"By extending our development planning to cater to future needs of both the greater Northern region of Melbourne and the growing community of businesses and staff located on site, we will continue to build Melbourne Airport's reputation as being more than simply a point of arrival and departure to Victoria."

Expressions of interest are currently being sought from operators for the new hotel project.