Brisbane’s Hilton hotel quietly stops taking bookings

Hilton Brisbane management insists the luxury hotel is undertaking “routine lease negotiations” although it has quietly stopped taking bookings beyond the end of September.

Travellers and holidaymakers have been unable to book rooms at the hotel on Elizabeth Street for dates beyond September 30 since at least June, leaving employees and potential guests uncertain about its future.

Those who tried to book a room were unable to do so via the hotel’s website, while others were told over the phone that all rooms were booked.

Brisbane Hilton has stopped taking bookings beyond the end of the month.Credit: Brisbane Times / William Davis

The Vintaged Bar + Grill steak restaurant on level six of the hotel also was not taking reservations.

Hilton general manager Chris Partridge told this masthead the decision was made because of “routine negotiations”, adding that bookings would probably reopen this week.

He did not comment on details of the negotiations, citing commercial in confidence, but said no jobs would be lost.

In a joint statement, the Hilton and the site’s owner, property fund manager ISPT, did not address the pause in bookings and said the hotel was fully operational.

“As part of the redevelopment of 150 Elizabeth Street, the iconic Harry Seidler-designed hotel currently known as the Hilton Brisbane is being retained and refurbished,” the statement says.

“In due course ISPT will assess refurbishment options with the intention to sequence the hotel refurbishment works in a manner that minimises the disruption on hotel operations.

“In the meantime, the hotel is fully open and operational.”

The Hilton and the site’s owner, property fund manager ISPT, said the hotel was “being retained and refurbished”.Credit: Brisbane Times / William Davis

The ISPT-owned site also incorporates the Wintergarden shopping centre and Brisbane’s historic Regent theatre. Construction of a 42-storey tower office block on a portion of the site that is currently vacant at 150 Elizabeth Street was announced in 2023, with building due to start this year.

The new office tower will be partially elevated above the Wintergarden car park and will be eventually integrated with the existing rooftop space of the Hilton hotel.

Meanwhile, construction is under way on the $50 million Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Spring Hill, due to open this year.

The Hilton Garden Inn, the global hotel chain’s more affordable offering, will have 129 rooms and will be the brand’s fifth hotel in Queensland and second in Brisbane.

The Hilton Brisbane on Elizabeth Street opened its doors in 1987 and underwent a $37 million refurbishment more than a decade ago.

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