THE creation of Newcastle's first five-star hotel is one step closer after Newcastle council completed the sale of the Roundhouse building.
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Syrian billionaire Ghassan Aboud's Crystalbrook Collection hotel chain purchased the council's administration building, with the aim to open the new hotel by 2020.
The plans for the round, nine-storey building include 135 wedge-shaped rooms, a six-metre glass addition on top, a bar, restaurant and pool.
Mr Aboud described the accommodation offering, to be named the “Kingsley”, as a “business” hotel.
The billionaire, who is paying the council about $15.5 million for the landmark Roundhouse, spoke to the Newcastle media for the first time in February during a flying visit to Australia.
“I love it. From far it looks small, but when you come quite near you feel that this is a good building, a very nice building," he said at the time.
“And don’t worry: the rooms will be really wonderful, because some people are like, ‘The rooms will be like a piece of pizza,’ but don’t worry: it will be lovely pizza.”
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