Choice Hotels’s Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments, part of the Ascend Collection, has completed the first stage of a multi-million-dollar redevelopment of its waterfront property.
The 1962-built site, formerly the Hamilton Hume Motor Inn and later Quality Hotel Bayside Geelong, is being redeveloped into a 4.5-star, 110-room hotel. The project has created about 300 construction jobs and 75 operational roles.
Completion is expected in late 2026, with plans for a new façade and a fine-dining restaurant overlooking Corio Bay.
Stage one included demolition of 60 per cent of the original structure to build a new lobby and arrival area, Franca’s Ristorante, 79 guestrooms, seven meeting and event spaces, and a fitness centre with sauna and indoor lap pool.
The redevelopment includes 10 accessible rooms, seven of which are twin-share. Sustainability features include a 100kW solar array, Energy Recovery Ventilation, double-glazed windows, smart LED lighting, EV charging stations and plated breakfasts to reduce food waste.
Franca’s Ristorante, named for the hotel’s founder Francesca, is led by executive chef John Hornsey, who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury venues in the UK, Caribbean and Australia.
Located at 13–15 The Esplanade, the hotel overlooks Geelong’s waterfront and is within walking distance of the city centre. It is also close to major regional events such as the Geelong Revival Motoring Festival, Festival of Sails and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
The hotel participates in the Choice Privileges programme, which allows members to earn and redeem points for stays at more than 7,000 Choice-branded hotels in 46 countries and territories.
Choice Hotels Asia-Pac CEO Trent Fraser said: “Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments is a shining example of what the Ascend brand represents – unique, locally connected, and independently owned hotels that offer authentic experiences.”
“We’re creating a hotel that reflects the spirit of Geelong – its history, its people, and its future,” added Kevin Robe, general manager of Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments. “We’re proud to offer a contemporary, inclusive, and welcoming space for travellers from across Victoria, interstate and overseas – whether they’re here for business, leisure, or one of the region’s many iconic events.”
He will lead Qantas’ offshore sales teams and alliance partnerships, with regional general managers across the UK, Europe and South Africa, the Americas, and Asia, as well as the Alliances team, reporting to him. He will commence on December 1, 2025, with Nick McGlynn, Qantas Executive Vice President Asia, reporting to him.
