The first champagne cork has been popped atop Gold Coast Airport’s Rydges hotel – celebrating an important construction milestone for the $50 million project.

Construction of the hotel topped out this month, signalling that the structure’s full height had been reached and the builder’s focus had turned to the internal fit out.

On the site of what will be the highly anticipated rooftop bar, representatives from Gold Coast Airport and the Queensland Airports Limited group, developer Trepang and builder Condev Construction toasted the milestone.

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said it was an exciting time to be standing on level seven and experiencing the stunning ocean and hinterland views for the first time.

“This is a key project for Gold Coast Airport and central to our $500 million investment in the precinct,” he said.

Queensland Airports Limited Executive General Manager Property and Infrastructure Carl Bruhn said visitors would be checking into the new hotel by the middle of next year.

“Construction has progressed well to date and the hotel is on track to be completed by mid-2020, which means our first guests will check-in shortly thereafter,” he said.

Innovative features like pre-built bathroom pods accelerated the hotel construction process.

About 760 employees and contractors have been inducted on site and 8,000 cubic metres of concrete pumped into the project since the first sod was turned in early February.

Condev Construction Executive Chairman Steve Marais said the progress to date was pleasing.

“With the structure built, the focus for our team is now on the internal fit-out and the building’s exterior,” he said.

“We are excited about reaching this milestone before Christmas and look forward to handing over the keys to the developer in mid-2020. The new hotel will be of major benefit to domestic and international visitors alike as the region continues its rapid growth.

“We’re very pleased to have been involved with the construction of such an iconic piece of infrastructure in the area.”

The hotel is being built by Condev on behalf of developer Trepang, which is associated with John ‘Foxy’ Robinson and Nick Paspaley, who have a large hotel portfolio.

It is part of a $500 million investment in the Gold Coast Airport precinct, which also includes the $200 million southern terminal expansion – a three-level terminal with aerobridges.