Luxury hotel to be built on RNA Showgrounds site

THE $2.9 billion regeneration of the RNA Showgrounds scores milestone with construction scheduled to start on a 4-star hotel.

An artists impression of the interior on the Brisbane showgrounds hotel

THE $2.9 billion regeneration of the RNA Showgrounds has scored another milestone with construction scheduled to start this year on a 4-star hotel across the road from the new convention centre.

Australian-based Rydges will operate the 208-room hotel which will be built on the corner of King St and Gregory Tce.

CBRE Hotels senior director Wayne Bunz, who brokered the transaction, said construction will start after Ekka 2014 and is scheduled to finish in time for the 2015 event.

He said the recently completed $59 million Royal International Convention Centre and RNA events will be key demand generator for the hotel.

“While there is other mooted new hotel supply for Brisbane, only projects that are being built in a precinct where there is a demand generator such as the RNA will be successful,” Mr Bunz said.

An artist's impression of the new Brisbane Showground hotel

The hotel will be steered by a consortium Denwol Baron which has been working with the RNA for 12 months to finalise the agreement.

Baron Corporation managing director Stewart Baron said the hotel would comprise a mix of standard rooms, suites and family accommodation with a sweeping 70m plus frontage to King St.

“It will provide for comprehensive food and beverage offerings including a restaurant spilling out on to the King Street promenade and a high exposure bar at the hotel’s dramatic architectural interface with Gregory Tce,” he said.

The hotel will have small conference facilities while the bar will be designed as a “destination” attraction.

The RNA’s 15-year regeneration project in conjunction with Lend Lease kicked off in 2011 with the construction of convention centre.

Late last year construction started on K1, the first tower at Kings Gate commercial sector, and on The Green residential apartments.

An artists impression of the interior on the Brisbane showgrounds hotel

Yesterday, the Brisbane City Council approved plans for the conversion of an Albert St office tower in the CBD into a high end hotel.

Singapore-based Frasers Hospitality bought the 19-storey tower last year and it will be converted into a 239-room 4 or 5-star five star hotel featuring a restaurant on the ground level and function rooms on the podium levels.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the hotel will transform a major stretch of Albert St into a vibrant environment.

“More hotels will increase Brisbane’s capacity to improve the city’s tourism potential and attract more major events and business conventions to the city- both of which bring us enormous economic benefits,” he said.

“Two years ago I introduced a three-year moratorium on infrastructure changes for new four and five star hotels to address the need for quality and quantity of accommodation in the CBD.”