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I figure this probably needs a thread.
Key points derived from the article:
Just as a comparison... Crown in Melbourne has 481 rooms over 39 floors, so this is just 81 rooms short of matching Crown Tower in Melbourne. OR 100 rooms more then Crown's Macau Hotel, so there is a possibility we could be looking at something just a little bit larger then the following:
$625m casino gamble on future of Queensland tourism with new hotels, gaming facilities
Steven Wardill and Josh Robertson From: The Courier-Mail December 11, 2010 12:00AM
A $625 million punt will be taken on Queensland's ailing tourism industry with massive renovations to three of the state's casinos.
New five-star hotels, prestige restaurants and improved gaming facilities will be added to casinos in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Townsville.
The Bligh Government will today announce it has struck an agreement with Tabcorp and the pub sector to allow an additional 500 poker machines into the two southeast Queensland casinos.
The total number of poker machines allowed in Queensland will not increase as they will be transferred from the pool allocated to hotels.
In exchange, hotels have wrung several tax concessions out of the Government for the loss of machines from their allocation.
Premier Anna Bligh last night said the investment was a sign of confidence in the state's tourism industry.
"This major redevelopment is a great leap forward for our tourism industry, providing yet another drawcard to our cities while boosting jobs in the construction and gaming industries," she said.
"Tabcorp's proposal is timely, particularly for the Gold Coast, coinciding with the Government's bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games."
The company would begin construction on the Gold Coast and in Townsville next year, Tabcorp spokeswoman Michelle Pillonel said.
It is planning a 400-room, five-star hotel on the old State Library site situated at 1159 William St, Brisbane.
It will be Brisbane's first new hotel in a decade. A walkway would connect the hotel with the existing casino.
However, the timeline for construction is currently unknown as Tabcorp are yet to apply for planning approvals and will be required to consult over the heritage character of the site.
The hotel will also boast a spa, nightspot, ballroom, four restaurants and all of Treasury Casino's VIP gaming facilities.
Ms Pillonel said the Brisbane revamp was aimed at luring Asian high rollers from state-of-the-art gaming facilities in Singapore and Macau.
"This will be of that kind of standard. With the property in Brisbane in particular, we're looking at really competing on the international stage," she said.
It would also add to the pool of high-end hotel rooms in the city, of which there are a "critical shortage", Ms Pillonel said.
The $350 million upgrade of Jupiters on the Gold Coast also includes a new five-star hotel, with 200 rooms.
The site will gain eight new restaurants and bars, a nightclub, spa and pool, beachfront club, a larger main ballroom and main gaming floor and new VIP gambling area.
Another $15 million will be spent on an upgrade of Townsville's casino.
Despite Tabcorp securing only half the number of extra machines it had hoped for, its $625 million cash splash matches the amount originally flagged.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser said: "No increase in poker machine numbers, new attractions and accommodation for tourism, and a massive investment to stimulate employment, is a win-win-win for Queensland."
Key points derived from the article:
- 1159 William St - Old State library
- A walkway would connect the hotel with the existing casino. - Above or underground?
- 400-rooms
- Will consist of a spa, nightspot, ballroom, four restaurants and all of Treasury Casino's VIP gaming facilities
- The Brisbane revamp was aimed at luring Asian high rollers from state-of-the-art gaming facilities in Singapore and Macau - "With the property in Brisbane in particular, we're looking at really competing on the international stage"
Just as a comparison... Crown in Melbourne has 481 rooms over 39 floors, so this is just 81 rooms short of matching Crown Tower in Melbourne. OR 100 rooms more then Crown's Macau Hotel, so there is a possibility we could be looking at something just a little bit larger then the following:

$625m casino gamble on future of Queensland tourism with new hotels, gaming facilities
Steven Wardill and Josh Robertson From: The Courier-Mail December 11, 2010 12:00AM
A $625 million punt will be taken on Queensland's ailing tourism industry with massive renovations to three of the state's casinos.
New five-star hotels, prestige restaurants and improved gaming facilities will be added to casinos in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Townsville.
The Bligh Government will today announce it has struck an agreement with Tabcorp and the pub sector to allow an additional 500 poker machines into the two southeast Queensland casinos.
The total number of poker machines allowed in Queensland will not increase as they will be transferred from the pool allocated to hotels.
In exchange, hotels have wrung several tax concessions out of the Government for the loss of machines from their allocation.
Premier Anna Bligh last night said the investment was a sign of confidence in the state's tourism industry.
"This major redevelopment is a great leap forward for our tourism industry, providing yet another drawcard to our cities while boosting jobs in the construction and gaming industries," she said.
"Tabcorp's proposal is timely, particularly for the Gold Coast, coinciding with the Government's bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games."
The company would begin construction on the Gold Coast and in Townsville next year, Tabcorp spokeswoman Michelle Pillonel said.
It is planning a 400-room, five-star hotel on the old State Library site situated at 1159 William St, Brisbane.
It will be Brisbane's first new hotel in a decade. A walkway would connect the hotel with the existing casino.
However, the timeline for construction is currently unknown as Tabcorp are yet to apply for planning approvals and will be required to consult over the heritage character of the site.
The hotel will also boast a spa, nightspot, ballroom, four restaurants and all of Treasury Casino's VIP gaming facilities.
Ms Pillonel said the Brisbane revamp was aimed at luring Asian high rollers from state-of-the-art gaming facilities in Singapore and Macau.
"This will be of that kind of standard. With the property in Brisbane in particular, we're looking at really competing on the international stage," she said.
It would also add to the pool of high-end hotel rooms in the city, of which there are a "critical shortage", Ms Pillonel said.
The $350 million upgrade of Jupiters on the Gold Coast also includes a new five-star hotel, with 200 rooms.
The site will gain eight new restaurants and bars, a nightclub, spa and pool, beachfront club, a larger main ballroom and main gaming floor and new VIP gambling area.
Another $15 million will be spent on an upgrade of Townsville's casino.
Despite Tabcorp securing only half the number of extra machines it had hoped for, its $625 million cash splash matches the amount originally flagged.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser said: "No increase in poker machine numbers, new attractions and accommodation for tourism, and a massive investment to stimulate employment, is a win-win-win for Queensland."