Starwood signs New Westin Hotel and Residences in Australia

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has signed 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 in a convenient downtown location. The new Westin hotel will share a 66-story tower with The Residences at The Westin Brisbane Empire Square – one of the first internationally branded residential developments in Australia. Both the hotel and residences will open in early 2012.

“We are thrilled to come back to Brisbane with the signing of The Westin Brisbane Empire Square. Brisbane’s strong lodging market dynamics, thriving economy and marked increase in tourism arrivals positions the city as a key target destination for many hotel companies,” said Miguel Ko, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific.

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 hotel’s luxurious guest rooms will offer updated technology, flat-screen televisions, a well-designed work area and the signature Westin Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath. For further pampering, guests and residents will be able to choose among a menu of relaxing treatments at The Heavenly Spa by Westin. Additional facilities will include a WestinWORKOUT fitness facility and indoor pool, while the hotel’s three restaurants and bars will create an inviting atmosphere to socialize with friends and colleagues. Designed to accommodate groups of all sizes, The Westin Brisbane Empire Square will also offer nearly 8,000 square feet of meeting space.

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 47th to the 62nd floor. Residents will enjoy all the benefits of ownership in this premier development, including access to hotel services and certain hotel facilities.

The Westin Brisbane Empire Square will be the brand’s third hotel to open in Australia, joining 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.

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