W Hotels Return to Australia with the Opening of W Brisbane

The W Brisbane marks the brand’s re-entrance into the Australian market, ten years after the W Sydney closed

The W Brisbane is officially open, signalling W Hotels Worldwide’s return to Australia. The new Sunshine Coast property is the first W to open on Australian shores since the W Sydney closed in Woolloomooloo a decade ago, and paves the way for a further two W properties set to open in Melbourne and Sydney in the next few years.

Delivering that signature W aesthetic, the new luxury property mixes fast-paced urban style and modern design with a decidedly cheeky Aussie point of view. Its interior – featuring 312 guestrooms including 32 luxury suites all brimming with river views – was designed by renowned Australian interior design agency, Nic Graham & Associates, who have realised a design theme of ‘A River Dreaming’, an ode to its prime locale on the banks of the iconic Brisbane River and the visual connection to Brisbane’s famed arts precinct. Modern manifestations of Brisbane’s river, which has in recent years become the buzzing epicentre of the city’s social scene, are featured prominently throughout the hotel, weaving in influences from Australia’s indigenous roots and colonial heritage.

From the moment of arrival, guests are greeted by the hotel’s sensory environment. A staircase of timber river reeds leads guests to the Welcome Desk and the Living Room (the W brand’s take on the traditional hotel lobby). Earth tones, sedimentary layers, frayed edges and raw beauty associated with the Australian outback start from the arrival entrance and continue throughout the hotel’s public spaces. These organic formations draw out bold and colourful artwork from celebrated Australian artists including John Nicholson, Lucas Grogan and Reko Rennie. The hotel’s Living Room, the pulse of the W scene in Brisbane, shows off pools of colour throughout intricately designed rugs while complementing walls echo the flora and fauna of Brisbane’s sub-tropical environment. Bench tops and bar fronts are enhanced with forms inspired by curvilinear shapes and nearby water-worn cliff tops. Blade grass borders the expansive open space to immerse guests in an innovative interpretation of nature.

Guests can also detox, de-stress and rejuvenate the body, mind and soul at AWAY Spa, which features a treatment menu with Sodashi and Skeyndor products, as well as vitality pools, relaxation pods, His and Hers salt inhalation chambers and aromatherapy steam rooms. AWAY Spa will also be home to an Edwards And Co. hair salon with the style-centric hair haven making their Brisbane debut.

 

wbrisbane.com