The end of the 319-room Hilton Brisbane in the Wintergarden development on Queen St Mall is imminent, with Hilton to leave the hotel at the end of this month when their lease with the property owner expires.
“As part of the development of the 150 Elizabeth Street precinct, the iconic Harry Siedler designed hotel currently known as the Hilton Brisbane, is being retained and refurbished, with the hotel transferring to a new and globally recognised luxury hotel operator,” said Tom Waters, head of development for office, industrial, retail and mixed use at ISPT, which owns Wintergarden.
“ISPT, Hilton and the proposed new operator are collaboratively working through a transition process at the moment.
“The hotel will be closed for a brief period and will re-open under the new operator’s brand name. Excitingly, in 2026 the hotel will undergo a complete refurbishment,” said Waters.
ISPT have not yet released details of who the new operator will be.
In a statement, Hilton confirmed that the hotel was helping its employees through the transition.
“We are working with team members at the hotel, and we continue to support them through this transition, including working with the owners as they explore potential future employment opportunities at the hotel,” said the statement.
“We will always be proud of the 39-year history of Hilton Brisbane and would like to thank all team members, both past and present, for the significant contributions they have made to both the hotel and Hilton in Australia.”
Hilton also looks set to exit its 377-room Hilton Adelaide property, with Amora Hotels and Resorts acquiring the hotel after the property was put on the market by its owners, for the first time in more than three decades.
“We are delighted to welcome the iconic Hilton Adelaide into the Amora Hotels & Resorts portfolio, marking a significant milestone in our expansion strategy,” said owner of Amora Hotels and Resorts, Earp Siriphatrawan.
“This acquisition aligns with our vision of establishing a strong presence in key Australian cities while delivering world-class hospitality experiences.
“Adelaide, with its vibrant tourism and business landscape, presents an exciting opportunity for growth. This addition will bring immense value to our guests, stakeholders and the broader Amora community.”
While these are two significant exits for Hilton, the group has several other properties either recently opened or set to come online in Australia.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Hobart opened in Tasmania in late 2024, while the Hilton Garden Inn Brisbane City Centre North is currently under development and there is a Waldorf Astoria expected to open in Sydney next year.
