Brisbane hotels - poor overall?

[Mal]

I had a friend ask me recently - "what's a good hotel in Brisbane?". (She is planning a wedding, and wants a special place to stay in that night).

I had to think about it for a few minutes, and ran through the ones I've either stayed in, or have seen the rooms. I've stayed in many of the hotels in Brisbane, and quite frankly I believe the quality of hotels is poor overall. There are some new stand-outs (mainly boutique hotels based in the Valley), but there hasn't been real investment for many years.

Brisbane really needs some hotel investment. The market is too full of poor imitations [serviced apartments of varying quality]. Surprisingly this week, a new 5 * was announced as part of the Casino revamp, which is good. (Should fill the void of the cancellation of the Westin for Brisbane).

So are there any stand-outs in your opinion?

 

[Katie]

What about the Stamford Plaza? We had their second best room for our wedding night - top floor of the hotel (the one without a piano, Mr Katie says) breakfast on the balcony over the river, huge room, at least as big as a garden suite. Have never stayed in their standard rooms, but we've always enjoyed their garden suites and that lovely room on our wedding night.
Friends got married a few months before us and were upgraded to the same room, being their wedding night and all.

 

[munitalP]

In my experience;

Stanford Grand - Exec room, 5* hotel with 3.5* service
Hilton, minus several billion for service & rooms
Holiday Inn (near rail station - Roma St?), poor
Rydges, 5* location, 4* hotel, but does have some 5* suites

I have had much better accommodation out of Brisbane city.

munitalP

 

[markis10]

Nothing wrong with Quay West or the Sofitel, I would take the Penthouse @ Quay West over the Royal Suite at the Sofitel though!

 

[samh004]

The Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast would probably be very good for a wedding, I know it’s not in Brisbane, but it’s not too far away.

 

[kpc]

How about Stamford Plaza? Next to Botanical gardens for photos; always seems to be hosting a wedding when I have stayed or passed through...
Brisbane Hotel Accommodation | Stamford Plaza Brisbane Hotel

oops...didn't see all the above replies but note my suggestion has also been suggested already!

 

[JohnK]

Brisbane really needs some hotel investment. The market is too full of poor imitations [serviced apartments of varying quality].

Is the demand there for top class hotel rooms in Brisbane?

As far as service apartments go is the demand really there for executive type apartments?

 

[anat0l]

The new Executive Plus rooms in the BNE Hilton aren't bad, with new furniture. Suites are substandard.

The Treasury Hotel has nice rooms with an old world feel to it. If that's not your style, you won't like it for sure, otherwise it has a calming tone to it. Note that the Treasury Hotel is no longer participates in Hilton HHonors.

Holiday Inn? Certainly not a luxury hotel by any measure of the imagination.

The Sofitel looks good but I haven't been inside the rooms, and could well be very wrong, too. Ditto the Novotel on Wickham.

The Limes Hotel has a modern feel as it seems, but it's a bit far-ish from the city centre (it's nearer to Fortitude Valley, might not like that).

Truth be told, I'm tending to agree with Mal on this one. We have a poor selection when it comes to luxury hotels. Notwithstanding the Palazzo in the Gold Coast (which is not Brisbane), SE QLD has a pretty poor selection. Mind you, in Australia there are very few good hotels (i.e. ask the same question for another centre in Australia and you'll face the same problem, although not as bad as BNE or PER).

Is there demand? Maybe not, but that's because our pricing and standards are driving people away. Not that no one may want it. No one wants to pay the prices we are charging for rooms that look quite stale, so they don't even want to consider luxury rooms (so most are saying, "Gee, luckily we don't have any" - wrong!). It's one of the biggest reasons why domestic tourism in Australia is lower than a hooker's drawers, and tourism in general in SE QLD (indeed, in Australia) is a joke. Why holiday in Australia when you can go to another country and pay less or equal, get better quality accommodation and generally better quality and priced goods and services?

 

[MAX_1]

Emporium Hotel at Fortitude Valley....a boutique style hotel 5* - surrounded by some great restuarnats.

Brisbane Marriott in Queen St , City.

 

[Mal]

Yeah I did suggest the Stamford to my friend. Have not stayed there, but did think it is top of the pile when it comes to Brisbane.

The Hilton isn't too bad overall, but I wish they sorted out the outside of the hotel. Very old and messy.

Marriott I also suggested they check out. I've haven't stayed there, but I do know it's not too bad inside.

Treasury I've been in several rooms, but unless you are after the "classic old building" effect, it isn't that special, and the place does have some disadvantages.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Is the demand there for top class hotel rooms in Brisbane?

As far as service apartments go is the demand really there for executive type apartments?

Folks in Syd and Mel we do business with wouldn't dare of coming to "coughpy brisbane" because it's not modern enough. Dare I say it's because there's no modernisation that it drives away business...

 

[Sprucegoose]

Stayed at Suites at Sofitel, quite impressed although old layout of two rooms joined, a Good nights rest is what's important to me and that was achieved, albeit expensively.

 

[DrJ]

I always try to stay at the sofitel (club rooms ) when in BNE - rooms nothing special by 5* standards (but do contain Nespresso coffee machines) but the lounge is fantastic, and have always found the service to be amongst the best in Oz.

Plus is right on top of Central station so getting the airtrain is very easy!

 

[simongr]

Sofitel - Looks nice and grand from the outside but the rooms were just empty shells almost and the room service was awful.

Sebel/CityGate - godawful

Stayed in the Marriott a few times 10 years ago and I was impressed then...

 

[markis10]

Sofitel - Looks nice and grand from the outside but the rooms were just empty shells almost and the room service was awful.

Sebel/CityGate - godawful

Stayed in the Marriott a few times 10 years ago and I was impressed then...

Sebel x 2. Quay West and Mariott are all owned by the same company - Mirvac.

 

[Ewing]

The Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast would probably be very good for a wedding, I know it’s not in Brisbane, but it’s not too far away.

A bit of a pain to get to though if the event itself is in Brisbane.

I myself love the villas at the Sheraton Mirage across the road. It's a great place to relax for a few days (the main hotel is getting a bit tired though, and is overdue for a renovation).

I still haven't found a hotel in Brisbane itself worth raving about, so I often just get a serviced apartment.

 

[UP4014]

Anyone here stayed at the Sofitel recently, any good as it seems expensive based on my other Brisbane hotel experiences?

Have to say sadly that my experiences at Brisbane hotels is underwhelming.

Matt

 

[markis10]

Anyone here stayed at the Sofitel recently, any good as it seems expensive based on my other Brisbane hotel experiences?

Have to say sadly that my experiences at Brisbane hotels is underwhelming.

Matt

Its not bad when its the Wotif mystery hotel for $156 which it is for the next few weeks.

 

[MattinCBR]

Anyone here stayed at the Sofitel recently, any good as it seems expensive based on my other Brisbane hotel experiences?

Have to say sadly that my experiences at Brisbane hotels is underwhelming.

Matt

Recent stay at the Brisbane Sofitel was beyond underwhelming. Real service issues, to the point where I think it misleading to call this hotel 5* (or charge the rates that they seem to be able to get away with). I think part of the problem is that they are convinced that they are a 5* Luxury Hotel - but have very little concept of what that would really mean.

You should note they also do not participate in the Accor loyalty program either.

 

[haydensydney]

Agreed - Brisbane has cough choices for those wanting a luxury option.

My partner and I just suck it up and get a room at the Oaks Aurora - you can get a Penthouse room which has amazing views etc and its not *that* expensive