JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group’s Andrew Langsford has facilitated the successful sale of the renowned Mantra Bathurst Hotel to a local owner-operator for $13million on behalf of the MA Real Asset Opportunities Fund, managed by MA Financial Group’s MA Growth Ventures team.

The Mantra Bathurst Hotel, presenting 50 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, has been an integral part of Bathurst's hospitality landscape. The hotel's prominent location with direct access to Bathurst CBD and Mount Panorama, excellent facilities, and exceptional customer service have made it a favourite among business and leisure travellers alike.

JLL, acting as the exclusive advisor, oversaw the sales process of this off-market deal, ensuring a seamless and mutually beneficial transaction on behalf of MA Growth Ventures. The sale, which represents a 34% uplift on its acquisition price in 2021, followed a successful rebrand and repositioning of the asset.

Commenting on the successful transaction, Andrew Langsford, Senior Vice President at JLL, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We are delighted to have completed the sale of the Mantra Bathurst hotel. The sale presents an exciting opportunity for the new owners to build upon the hotel's esteemed reputation and capitalise on the ever-growing tourism and business scene in Bathurst.”

“With its strategic location and proximity to major regional attractions, the hotel is well-positioned to benefit from the continued growth of the region” he added.

Myles Gunter, Investment Director at MA Growth Ventures, said, “The sale of the Mantra Bathurst is the second realisation out of the MA Real Asset Opportunities Fund, which was established in November 2020 to acquire opportunistic, defensive and income generative assets. We are pleased to deliver a fantastic result to our investors off the back of the sale of the Mantra Bathurst, with the Fund’s average return to investors currently sitting at an 18% per annum total IRR across a portfolio of nine assets.”

As JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group continues to play a key role in facilitating high-profile real estate deals across Australia, this transaction further reinforces the company's dedication to delivering exceptional outcomes for its clients and showcasing its market-leading expertise in the hotel real estate sector.
Investment activity in Australia's hotel sector has experienced a notable slowdown, as revealed by investment volumes during the first half of this year. Local investment volumes reached A$646.4 million, marking a significant decline of 54% compared to the same period in 2023. Furthermore, this figure accounted for only 8% of the total hotel investment volumes in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

However, there remains a bright spot amidst the subdued market conditions. Mid-market opportunities, with a value of A$40 million or less, have maintained robust activity. These opportunities continue to attract strong investor interest and a substantial amount of capital. This can largely be attributed to the lower cost of capital available for investors in this segment, which primarily comprises high-net-worth individuals (HNWI), owner-operators, and smaller private entities.