A new hotel planned for the Darwin Waterfront has reached a major milestone, with CEL Australia having been selected to develop, own and operate the Darwin Convention Centre Hotel following a competitive Expression of Interest (EOI) process.

The EOI was facilitated by CBRE Hotels and served as the first step in the competitive market process to secure a private sector proponent to deliver a new hotel adjacent to the Darwin Convention Centre.

Today, Chief Minister Eva Lawler and CEL signed a project development agreement for the delivery of the Hotel.

The hotel is a key part of the Masterplan to redevelop the Waterfront into one of Australia’s leading integrated lifestyle and tourism destinations.

The Darwin Convention Centre Hotel will offer 236 rooms and provide new, upscale accommodation options for corporate and leisure visitors. The hotel will be operated under CEL’s own brand, Momentus Hotels & Resorts, and is expected to open towards the end of 2026.

Darwin Convention Centre General Manager, Peter Savoff, expressed his delight at the launch ceremony:

“This is great news for our business events industry. The increased number of hotel rooms will offer more options for conference delegates travelling to Darwin, with the hotel’s close proximity to the convention centre making it a convenient choice for attendees.

We are thrilled to see this development underway. The new hotel, once completed, will only further enhance the city’s reputation as a leading destination for business events.”