General News
29 August, 2025
$16m LOAM Hotel to bring 300 jobs and $150m boost to Grampians region
A multi-million-dollar hotel project in Stawell is set to create more than 300 jobs and inject $150 million into the region's economy across the next decade.
Barkly Property Ventures secured funding through the State Government's Regional Tourism Investment Fund 2024 for the $16 million LOAM Hotel, which will be built along the Western Highway.
Developer Sam Ballantyne said the project would help strengthen and grow the Grampians' status as a premium tourist destination in regional Victoria.
"LOAM Hotel will be a flagship for the region, and we are firmly focused on collaborating with – and connecting our guests to – local businesses, vendors, producers and artisans to stimulate the economy and be a valuable part of the community," he said.
"We're very thankful for the advocacy and support of Northern Grampians Shire Council, Grampians Tourism, as well as our project delivery partner Wimmera Southern Mallee Development."
The four-star, double-storey hotel will be part of Choice Hotels Asia-Pac's upscale Ascend Collection and feature 77 rooms.
The development is expected to create about 174 new construction jobs, in addition to 53 ongoing roles and more than 100 indirect jobs.
Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Karen Hyslop praised the hard work of developers in making the dream a reality.
"Sam and Gerard Ballantyne came to us about 18 months ago with this proposal, after doing their research and deciding Stawell was the perfect location to bring their vision to life," she said.
"This is such a critical project given our acute shortage of new higher-end tourism and worker accommodation.
"The LOAM Hotel will not only provide a significant number of new motel units for tourists and travellers between Melbourne and Adelaide, but it will also offer accommodation options for management workers and contractors serving our major industries.
"It is also strategically located near the turn-off to Halls Gap."
Architectural renders of LOAM Hotel, released by Choice Hotels Asia-Pac, reveal a design that harmonises with the iconic Grampians landscape.
The hotel's aesthetic celebrates the region's natural beauty and honours the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali Traditional Owners.
For further details, visit loamhotel.com.au.
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