The noise surrounding Brisbane’s new South City Square precinct development just got louder as Hyatt announces its first ever Brisbane property. The Hyatt Place hotel, south of the river and what will be less than a 5 minute rail journey from the CBD, is ideal for business and luxury travellers… and sports lovers who love heading to the Gabba for cricket and footy.
Hyatt Place joins the party south of the river
LUXURY hotels giant Hyatt has announced plans for the first ever Hyatt hotel in the Brisbane area, marking the return of a Hyatt branded hotel to Queensland.
A Hyatt Place hotel is expected to open in 2023 in Woolloongabba at the internationally award-winning and state-of-the-art $700 million South City Square precinct.
David Udell, Hyatt’s group president Asia Pacific, signed the agreement with Pellicano and Perri Projects – the joint-venture development partners behind South City Square – at Grand Hyatt Melbourne yesterday, ahead of the Australasian Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition which kicked off today.
An exciting, natural fit for Hyatt
“We’re very excited and it’s a natural fit, it has energy and passion written all over it,” Mr Udell told TDL.
“It’s all about where our customers want to go and we have a very loyal group of customers. For example, 45% of our customer base in Australia are World of Hyatt members (loyalty program). So it’s very significant, and first and foremost we look at them, and our people want to be a part of something new and exciting that’s dynamic and up and coming just like the South City Square precinct.
“With something like sport so big in Brisbane and other fantastic mixed use features, it makes for a natural perfect fit for us. For Hyatt Place, it’s very efficient from a development point of view in delivering it and it’s actually very efficient from an operating point of view. It’s the right product for this market.”
Hyatt Place Brisbane South City Square hotel is expected to feature 170 rooms and provide guests with a stylish and seamless experience, including a rooftop pool and bar, a 24-hour grab-and-go food market, as well as a café, lobby lounge and fitness centre.
Woolloongabba on the rise
“We’re proud to work with Pellicano and Perri Projects to bring the Hyatt Place brand to Brisbane for the first time, marking Hyatt’s return to the Queensland market and into a dynamic and fast-emerging community,” added Mr Udell.
“Woolloongabba is a hotspot for major sporting, entertainment, tourism, 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.”
Plans for the new Hyatt Place Brisbane South City Square demonstrates the world-class calibre and allure of the precinct. When complete, South City Square will also be home to 850 architecturally designed apartments, a Readings Cinemas, a Woolworths supermarket, health and wellness facilities, offices, a childcare centre, as well as leading shopping, dining, cafés and boutique retailers.”
A high calibre precinct
Pellicano Managing Director Nando Pellicano said the announcement of Hyatt Place Brisbane South City Square comes after a global expressions of interest campaign and strong interest from several major hotels.
“We’re delighted to work with Hyatt and benefit from its world-class knowledge and introducing guests to Hyatt’s first select-service contemporary hotel in Queensland,” Mr Pellicano said, pointing out the “Gabba factor” plays a big part in the allure of the precinct.
“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.”
How Hyatt found its Place in Brisbane
“Hyatt Place suits South City Square so well because we’ve got so much amenity downstairs and the model that Hyatt Place is fits perfectly because our people want the resautarants, the cafes and such things which are all on the doorstep, and they don’t have to duplicate that within the hotel,” Mr Pellicano said.
“The hotel is great at what it does and if people want the entertainment, it’s all within the precinct. We believed their model suited it perfectly.”
Brisbane’s tourism market set to thrive with Hyatt Place Brisbane Brisbane’s visitor economy is growing strongly – particularly in key segments like leisure and events travel, and Asian tourism. 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%).
Hyatt Place Brisbane at South City Square will form part of the city’s wave of new four and five-star hotels opening in Brisbane, adding to the long list of internationally recognised brands.
Corporate appeal
With that hotel boom, corporate travel management company CT Connections, which has offices in Brisbane, says the Hyatt Place hotel announcement further strengthens the city’s appeal for business travellers and luxury holidayers.
“It’s very exciting news that Hyatt is coming to Brisbane,” CT Connections Partnership Manager Tim Hannah said.
“It really illustrates just how progressive the city is becoming as well as the requirement for luxury accommodation. The location will be perfect for both the leisure and corporate travellers; close to the Gabba and Southbank as well as the new Cross River Rail station which will give direct access into the CBD. Brisbane is booming and this is just another example of the growth and advancement of this great city.”
Fringe benefits south of the CBD
David Scalzo, Perri Projects General Manager, agrees.
“David (Udell), from Hyatt, earlier touched on accommodation now being an experience for the customer and there are going to be people who want a luxury experience in the CBD but there are a lot of people who are going to want an experience that is a more local, refined, curated and have access to all the great supporting retail and excitement,” Mr Scalzo said.
“And be close to the drivers of the central business district obviously from a commercial point of view, but events, conventions, sports… all that happens on the fringe of Brisbane CBD, not in it, so they’ll be just as connected to those drivers as they are in the central part of the city.”
Mr Pellicano added: “With the new rail services (Cross River Rail Woolloongabba underground station and its integrated bus hub – currently under construction) only three minutes by train to the CBD, it’s a game changer for Woolloongabba. You’ll see that kick for the commercial precinct now. There’s been a lot of residential activity but with that connection now to the city you’ll see it will make the area a really viable commercial option too.”
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