Hyatt returns to Queensland following Woolloongabba lease
Hotel giant Hyatt is returning to Queensland after seven years.
The accommodation provider this week committed to part of the $700 million South City Square project in Woolloongabba, about two kilometres south-east of the Brisbane CBD.
Scheduled to open in 2023, and be branded Hyatt Place, the hotel will include 170 rooms, a rooftop pool and bar, a grab-and-go food market, which will trade 24-hours a day, lobby lounge and fitness centre.
Hyatt previously operated from two Queensland inns, at Sanctuary Cove and Coolum – the latter property being acquired by Queensland’s richest man, Clive Palmer, in 2011, then shut a year later. Celebrities including U2 and Mick Jagger previously stayed at the Coolum complex, known as Hyatt Regency.
South City Square is being developed by Perri Projects and Pellicano, both Melbourne-based developers and investors. As well as the hotel, it will include office space, 850 apartments, a Readings Cinema, Woolworths supermarket, health and wellness facilities, childcare centre, and retail including restaurants and cafes.
The joint venture owners announced the Woolloongabba lease ahead of the Australasian Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition, coincidentally held at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt.
Hyatt group president, Asia Pacific, David Udell said “we’re proud to work with Pellicano and Perri Projects to bring the Hyatt Place brand to Brisbane for the first time, making Hyatt’s return to the Queensland market and into a dynamic and fast-emerging community”.
“Woolloongabba is a hotspot for major sporting, entertainment, tourism and commercial and medical areas in Brisbane, and we look forward to giving professionals and leisure travellers a relaxed, high-quality hotel experience within South City Square’s vibrant, inner-city lifestyle hub”.
Pellicano managing director Nando Pellicano described the South City Square complex as being of a world-class calibre.
“We’re delighted to work with Hyatt and benefit from its world-class knowledge.
“Hyatt Place Brisbane South City Square will be the leading hotel destination for cricket and AFL enthusiasts, as well as those visiting for major entertainment events at our flagship ‘Gabba’ stadium.
“Whether you’re having a ‘staycation’, or visiting from interstate or overseas, the Hyatt Place hotel will give guests the high-end, low-fuss and enlivening experience we’re creating at South City Square.
The parties said that in December 2018, Brisbane enjoyed record highs in domestic and international visitors of more than 8.9 million visitors – with domestic visitation at 7.5 million (up 8.2%).
Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said “Hyatt Place Brisbane at South City Square will form part of the city’s wave of new four and five-star hotels…adding to the long list of internationally recognised brands”.
“Brisbane has emerged as Australia’s New world city, however, just five years ago we were forgoing 121,000 visitors every year as a result of a shortage in internationally-recognised, full-service hotel rooms,” Cr Schrinner said.
“For the first time in a decade, the city now offers a wide range of new luxury accommodation options, supporting our $7.5 billion tourism industry and record visitation to the city.
“Making sure the city has high-quality hotel options is important for the city to ensure we can continue to secure major cultural and sporting events, conventions, plus an ever-increasing lifestyle and leisure market.”
Monika Dubaj, vice president real estate and development, Asia-Pacific, Hyatt added “the plans for Hyatt Place Brisbane South City Square are part of our strategy to provide more offerings to travellers as we expand Hyatt’s portfolio of seven existing hotels in Australia with new destinations across the country.”
Hyatt Hotels Corporation is headquartered in Chicago. It manages more than 330 Hyatt Place locations globally, including in Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.
Last month, we reported the Hilton brand was opening its first hotel in the Melbourne CBD.
Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street, as it will be known, is under construction atop and behind the historic Equity Chambers building at 472-478 Bourke Street.
