General News
2 September, 2025
Hotel gets the green light
STAWELL is set to house a new 4-star hotel development which is expected to inject $150 million into our local economy.
In a huge boost for regional tourism, job creation and the local economy, Choice Hotels Asia-Pacific has announced that funding has been secured for the brand-new LOAM Hotel in Horsham Road which will be the largest in the Grampians region.
The stylish 77-room, 4-star hotel will span across two buildings and Choice Hotels believes it will attract business and leisure travellers from within Victoria, interstate and overseas.
The $16 million double-storey development will create an estimated 174 new construction jobs and 53 ongoing roles as well as 100-plus indirect ‘flow-on’ jobs in the supply chain.
“Overall, the LOAM Hotel will inject an estimated $150 million economic value into the local economy over the next decade,” the company said in a statement.
The project has taken owner-developers Sam and Gerard Ballantyne of Barkly Property Ventures 18 months to work through planning and approval processes and has received unanimous support from regional and State peak bodies to see the major tourism asset come to fruition.
“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,” Sam Ballantyne said.
“We’re delighted that the Victorian Government has also embraced our vision and provided a grant through its Regional Tourism Investment Fund 2024.
“We look forward to delivering a hotel that will serve as a catalyst to strengthen and grow the Grampians’ status as a premium tourism destination in regional Victoria.
LOAM Hotel will also provide quality accommodation with cooking facilities, full kitchens and workstations for corporate guests who are working in the region for longer periods.
“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.”
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said this will be a major boost for the region’s tourism.
“We're proud to invest in projects like this that strengthen Victoria’s position as a world-class destination and give visitors even more reasons to explore and enjoy our regions.’’
Key features of the hotel will include studio-style rooms, a wellness studio and hydrothermal room with sauna and ice baths, onsite guest laundry, onsite electric vehicle (EV) chargers and a solar energy system.
The hotel has prioritised sustainability and will exceed a 5-star energy rating.
It will also have four dedicated accessible rooms that are fully compliant with best-practice Universal Design standards to ensure the property offers an inclusive accommodation experience for all guests.
Mayor Karen Hyslop said she was excited to see the hard work of developers Sam and Gerard Ballantyne come to fruition.
“Sam and Gerard 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,” she said.
“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,” Cr Hyslop said.
Work on the development, north of the United Service Station, is expected to start in coming months.
Read More: Stawell