Australian developer says 'toxic' Trump hotel plan scrapped

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

SYDNEY: A US$1.1 billion plan to construct a 91-storey Trump-branded hotel and apartment tower on Australia’s Gold Coast has been scrapped. The developer, Altus Property Group, cited the ‘toxic’ nature of the American brand as the primary reason for abandoning the project, which was originally intended to redefine luxury beachfront living.

David Young, chief executive of Altus Property Group, stated that the brand's reputation among Australians deteriorated significantly following the start of the war. 

While Young described the brand's decline as ‘grossly unfair’ and maintained that there is no personal acrimony between himself and the Trump family, he noted that "the writing was on the wall" for the business partnership.

The Trump Organization provided a different perspective, claiming they pulled out of the deal because the Australian licensing partner failed to meet specific obligations. 

A spokeswoman for the organization stated that while they were excited about the Gold Coast opportunity, the project’s success was dependent on these unfulfilled requirements.

Public opposition also played a significant role in the project's demise, with an online petition gathering over 124,000 signatures. The ‘Stop the Trump Tower’ campaign, directed at the Gold Coast city council, specifically criticized the U.S. president's perceived ‘contempt for democratic norms’ as a reason to block the development.

Despite the collapse of the deal with the Trump Organization, the developer still intends to complete a high-end luxury project at the site. Young confirmed he has been in ongoing discussions with several other prestigious global brands to replace the Trump name and move the 91-storey development forward.

Photo Credits-  Illustration: Altus Property Group