Westin Hotels & Resorts Expands into Queensland, Australia (source:Business Wire)
Adding even more depth to its rapidly expanding portfolio in Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide today announced an agreement with Metacap Empire Square Pty. Ltd. to open a new-build Westin hotel and residences in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia.
The Westin Brisbane Empire Square will offer 306 rooms and a sophisticated, refreshing atmosphere in a convenient downtown location. The new Westin hotel will share a 66-story tower with The Residences at The Westin Brisbane Empire Square – the first internationally branded residential development in Australia. Both the hotel and residences will open in early 2012, marking the return of the Westin brand to this dynamic Australian city.
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The Westin Brisbane Empire Square will offer a prime location on Elizabeth Street, close to Central Station, the Convention and Exhibition Center and Brisbane Casino. The hotel and residences will be part of a premier mixed-use development comprised of the hotel, residences and grade A commercial office space. The third largest city in Australia and most populous city of Queensland, Brisbane is a modern, cosmopolitan city offering an appealing blend of historic buildings, beautiful landscapes and waterways. Popular attractions include the Botanic Gardens, King George Square and Queen Street Mall – the entertainment hub of Brisbane.
The Westin Brisbane Empire Square will be the brand’s third hotel to open in Australia, joining the Westins in Sydney and Melbourne. Westin is also present in Auckland and Fiji and has a hotel scheduled to open in Queenstown in late 2009. Starwood had experienced phenomenal growth in Asia Pacific, where it currently has 136 hotels in its portfolio an additional 80 hotels under development.
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The Residences at The Westin Brisbane Empire Square will include 98 luxury apartments and six penthouses overlooking South Bank on one side, and the city and ocean on the other. The units will occupy more than 47,000 square feet of residential space from the 47(th) to the 62(nd) floor. Residents will enjoy all the benefits of ownership in this premier development, including access to hotel services and certain hotel facilities.
Metacap Empire Square Pty. Ltd. is a private property company established by Newell Palmer Securities, a Sydney base financial advisory firm and Alex Jimenez, a local Brisbane property developer. The company’s focus is on prime sites located in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.