Bryon Bay hospitality group Raes is expanding its footprint, forging a new partnership with property developer Podia to launch a new luxury development in the Northern NSW coastal town.The Bonono by Raes will be a unique hotel-apartment concept, promising space and privacy of a luxurious apartment with the “convenience, service and atmosphere of a 5-star hotel”.Raes has partnered with Podia to bring its fabled Byron lifestyle brand to the project, with a new culinary, wellness and retail destination on the ground floor as well as luxury hospitality services for the hotel-apartment suites above.
The Bonobo is a modernist three-level building due for completion mid-2024. A joint venture between Podia and Centennial Property Group, the building by architects Richards & Spence – renowned for their work on The Calile Hotel in Brisbane – will form a new landmark in the centre of the beachside town.The Bonobo by Raes will feature 41 two-, three- and four-bedroom hotel-apartments, managed exclusively by Raes, offer an alternative to coastal apartment ownership. The hotel-apartments will sit above a central courtyard on the ground floor, surrounded by a mix retail tenancies curated by Raes to deliver their signature Byron-vibe restaurants, bars, wellness, and fashion.With a portfolio that includes Raes on Wategos, Raes Dining Room & Cellar Bar, and luxury superyacht Sea Raes, the Raes team has built a hospitality brand with a global cult following, renowned for its effortless style and uniquely Australian take on luxury.“We’re excited to partner with Podia in bringing The Bonobo by Raes to market,” remarked Jordy Catalano, Managing Director of Raes. “We saw its potential from the get-go; it’s a really exciting new concept and it is quintessentially Byron.”Michael Grassi, Director of Podia said: “Antony and Jordy Catalano have been on board from our first conversations about this unique project in the heart of Byron. They immediately saw the potential of the luxury hotel-apartment concept and the value the Raes brand could bring to it.”Construction is underway with a target completion by mid-2024. See thebonobo.com.au.
