Top flight hotel will be Devine
The Courier Mail, 02/03/2007
Devine has revealed plans to build a $425 million 6-star hotel and apartment development overlooking Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens.
The ASX-listed property group intends on developing its newly acquired Carrington site at the corner of Alice and Albert streets.
Devine finalised that deal last month paying $22.7 million for the 2067sq m block.
Managing director David Devine said the hotel would be made up of a mix of hotel rooms and residences spread out over 40 to 50 levels.
“I suppose a 6-star hotel is something like Versace, offering silver service fine dining, a 24-hour valet and 24-hour room service,” Mr Devine said.
“We’re not interested in Versace, ours will be totally, totally different.”
Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels has been appointed to find an appropriate hotel operator.
Mr Devine said he had been inspired by a range of new boutique-style hotels popping up in the US.
As part of the hotel’s surrounds, Devine plans to create a French Quarter precinct offering indoor and outdoor dining set among manicured gardens.
Mr Devine did not believe there would be any concerns about the building potentially casting a large shadow over the Botanic Gardens.
“I don’t think shadowing is as major an issue as it was 10 years ago. I think commonsense has prevailed.”
Mr Devine said the prevalence of skin cancer in Queensland had made people appreciate a bit of shade.
Brisbane’s hotel market is one of the strongest in the country with an occupancy rate of almost 80 per cent.
Devine has appointed Queensland architect Bevan Lynch, Executive Chairman of ML Design, to coordinate a design competition for the project.
The building will include between 120 to 150 hotel rooms and 70 to 90 exclusive residential apartments on the top 30 levels.
The apartments will feature three and four bedrooms, ranging in price from $2 million to $12 million.
It is hoped the development would be completed by the second half of 2011, subject to building approvals.
Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Asia Pacific CEO David Gibson said the hotel was well timed with Brisbane experiencing record tourism demand.
“For the past five years, Brisbane has been the star performer of all Australian capital cities and is poised to continue to enjoy strong trading conditions,” Mr Gibson said.
Written: Richard Finnila, Courier Mail - 2 March 2007
