Hong Kong-based Ovolo Hotel Group has announced its latest flagship Queensland hotel will open its doors next month after spending $55 million transforming the former Emporium Hotel in Fortitude Valley.
Ovolo purchased the 103-room hotel for $41 million earlier this year and quickly set in motion plans to transform the building's decor to reflect its reputation for "fabulous and unconventional" amenities.
The multimillion-dollar renovation which has been spearheaded by Woods Bagot, aims to provide a "whimsical oasis for guests", rife with playful and colourful elements, commissioned art pieces, custom wallpapers and eccentric furniture.
“Our brief to Woods Bagot was that each of our hotels must have their own unique personality and style, inspired by local surrounds, culture, heritage and Ovolo’s playful, forward-thinking spirit, and they’ve delivered exactly that with The Valley,” Ovolo Group chief executive Girish Jhunjhnuwala said.
“There is an element of fantasy, escapism and play in The Valley. We’re positioning it as the perfect contemporary oasis to escape our busy urban lives.”
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“With investments totalling around $90 million this project is helping to solidify Brisbane’s reputation as a world-class destination,” Tourism Industry development minister Kate Jones said.
Ovolo has been very active in the Australian market since opening its first Australian hotel in 2013, Melbourne's Ovolo Laneways.
The hotelier isn't a stranger to large-scale renovations having purchased the site of the former Blue and the W hotels in Woolloomooloo for $35 million in 2014.
Ovolo spent $20 million on renovations on the site of the former Blue and the W hotels along the historic Woolloomooloo wharf.
The group's Inchcolm Hotel located in Brisbane's Spring Hill has also revitalised a heritage-listed building, after paying $16.5 million for the property.
Ovolo now holds hotels in Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra, with three more located in Hong Kong.
Brisbane's luxury hotel sector is one of the busiest in the country with a range of new brands opening or under construction.
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Emporium has now moved and opened its new 143 room 5-star hotel as part of the the $600 million Southpoint precinct in Southbank developed by Brisbane family-owned Anthony John Group.
The Calile, The Malouf family's new $100 million 175-guest room hotel, inspired by Miami, Palm Springs and Rio de Janeiro, has also opened its doors in Fortitude Valley
US hotel chain Starwood Hotels and Resorts has also brought the first Westin branded hotel to Queensland.
Starwood's fourth Westin hotel in Australia, featuring 286 guest rooms, is due to open in November.
Adina has also taken a landmark, early 20th-century bank on the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets and transformed it into a glamorous 220-room hotel with river views and heritage features.
Developers Deague Group, creator of the renowned Art Series Hotels, also have plans for a 164-room hotel as part of the $200 million Howard Smith Wharves redevelopment, which is currently underway.
Brisbane has also become home to Australia’s only W hotel, the city's first 5-Star hotel in 20 years.
The new 312-room hotel is part of the ambitious Brisbane Quarter project, a mixed-use, three-building development comprised of residences, offices, restaurants, and retail.
