SilverNeedle commences $35 million refurb of Lennons hotel in Brisbane

SilverNeedle Hospitality has appointed Hutchinson Builders

to undertake the $35 million redevelopment of the Chifley at Lennons hotel, located in Brisbane’s popular Queen Street Mall precinct.

SilverNeedle acquired the landmark hotel last year for $57 million.

Hutchinson Builders commenced work on the major refurbishment project this week, which is scheduled to be delivered in time to accommodate guests during the G20 Leaders Summit in Brisbane in November 2014.

Managing Director and Group CEO of SilverNeedle Hospitality, Iqbal Jumabhoy, said he is excited the project has entered the construction phase.

“This project will bring many benefits to retailers, businesses, residents and visitors while providing much needed hotel rooms and food and beverage offerings in its iconic location,”  he said.

The Chifley at Lennons hotel will be transformed into SilverNeedle Hospitality’s new flagship hotel brand, NEXT Hotel™ and will be the very first of its kind to open world-wide.

The 300-room NEXT Hotel™ will make good use of its close proximity to Brisbane’s iconic Burnett Lane and Queen Street Mall by opening new retail space when the refurbishment works are completed.

The luxury hotel is designed to appeal to the modern business traveller and help cater for Brisbane’s growing number of leisure and business tourists.

SilverNeedle Hospitality has previously extended into the Brisbane hotel market by acquiring the hotel and management rights for Leighton Properties’ Mosaic development in Fortitude Valley.

Brisbane Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk, has expressed his support for the project and says hotel development is an economic priority for Brisbane.

“Brisbane’s hotel industry has experienced strong trading conditions over a number of years and has the capacity for an additional 299-446 hotel rooms a year for the next 10 years to meet current and future demands,” Mr Quirk said.