Australia’s fastest growing apartment hotel operator, Veriu Group has continued the ambitious roll out of its successful Punthill apartment hotel accommodation model with the opening of its third NSW property – Punthill Maitland, on 5 August 2024.

The first hotel brand to open in the town in more than a decade – and the Group’s first outing in regional NSW, the 76-apartment property is located at 373 High Street, close to Maitland’s commercial centre, and offers a mix of modern studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, including interconnecting and accessible room types.

Designed to accommodate solo and group travel, for both business and leisure, each state-of-the-art apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen, a desk, fast, high-quality internet, smart televisions with streaming capability, in-room laundry facilities, and secure on-site parking. Other on-site facilities, including a spacious conference room measuring 100sqm, along with a well-equipped gymnasium, further enhance the hotel’s appeal and make it the perfect choice for an overnight or extended stay.

An easy drive from Newcastle Airport, Maitland lies at the gateway to NSW’s acclaimed Hunter Valley region, placing Punthill Maitland’s guests within easy reach of a plethora of amenities and attractions. The town itself boasts a diverse culinary scene, with a range of restaurants and bars catering to all tastes, from casual cafes to upscale dining establishments, while a great selection of shops and entertainment venues provides further options for leisure pursuits. History buffs will also delight in exploring Maitland's rich heritage through its many historical and cultural sites.

Both the Maitland Showground and the Maitland Regional Art Gallery are within short walking distance; the Maitland Hospital is also close by; and easy access to the town’s thriving business parks also makes Punthill Maitland ideal for corporate travellers. For those keen to venture further afield, the hotel is the perfect base for exploring the wider Hunter Valley Region, renowned for its wineries and stunning scenery.

The opening of Punthill Maitland marks an exciting milestone for Veriu Group CEO Zed Sanjana. “We’re extremely pleased to have added Punthill Maitland to our existing portfolio. We settled on this location as our first regional property for several reasons. First up, Maitland is located in one of the fastest growing regional areas in New South Wales, and this growth has been accompanied by a wide range of construction and development projects in both the residential and commercial space.

However, while the region is rapidly shaping up as a significant commercial catchment area, we believe it’s been somewhat underserviced in terms of quality corporate accommodation. Ours is the first new hotel brand to open in Maitland in over a decade and we’ve already experienced incredibly strong forward bookings, which demonstrates that level of untapped demand.”

He adds, “The hotel's unique location in the heart of Maitland's commercial hub also positions it perfectly to serve both business travellers and leisure guests looking to explore the area.” Indeed, the arrival of the Victorian-based operator is expected to provide a much welcome boost to the Hunter Valley’s tourism industry, which is currently experiencing a resurgence in post-pandemic travellers. Notes Sanjana, “Tourism in the Hunter region is also on the rise, with a large calendar of events occurring in Maitland and the wider region, and we’re excited to be a part of that growth”.

The property has been developed in partnership with the Panthera Group, highly regarded for its depth of experience delivering successful high-quality mixed used commercial and residential developments throughout New South Wales and Queensland. CEO, Mario Evangelo is also delighted the hotel is now open.

"We take pride in our past contributions to the Maitland community, including our previous ownership of Maitland Central, the area's largest retail site. Though we no longer own Maitland Central, we reflect fondly on our role in its development and the positive impact it had on the local landscape.

"During our ownership, we envisioned and successfully submitted development applications that paved the way for significant regional improvements. Collaborating closely with local builder Mars Building during challenging times in the construction industry, we played a pivotal role in bringing transformative changes, including the introduction of a much-needed regional hotel through approaching Maitland City Council and Veriu Group," he adds.

“Panthera Group remains dedicated to identifying new opportunities that align with our mission to create the best and highest-use developments with lasting value that enrich communities for many generations to come," says Evangelo.

The opening of the new Punthill Maitland marks the start of what is expected to be a very busy twelve months for the Veriu Group, with a number of other projects nearing completion including Punthill Sunshine in Melbourne’s west, the Group’s first ACT property – Punthill Tuggeranong and its latest Veriu hotel –  Veriu Macquarie Park in Sydney. The Group also remains focused on its ambitious expansion plan to roll out the successful Punthill apartment hotel accommodation model across NSW, with a number of other regional openings scheduled in the next couple of years.

More announcements about the opening of new Punthill and Veriu hotels at various sites around Australia, are expected from the Veriu Group in the coming months.

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Veriu Group’s Punthill brand the first hotel to open in Maitland in 10 Years