Inside The Star, at the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf redevelopment
The Star Brisbane, at the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf redevelopment, officially opens its doors today, with the operators saying it will usher in a transformative era for tourism and entertainment in Queensland.
With Queen’s Wharf redevelopment almost a decade in the making, the The Star tops off the precinct, soaring 100 metres above the city. The pinnacle Sky Deck will now top the bucket list while The Star Grand hotel is fully booked for the opening weekend.
Foodies will be among the first wave of visitors with The Star Brisbane offering numerous dining and drinking experiences. From 2pm, guests will be able to enjoy celebrity chef Luke Nguyen’s celebrated Fat Noodle and its South-East Asian flavours, while the LiveWire entertainment venue will feature music acts late into the night.
Sports fans can catch all the action in the Sports Bar, that features a100sqm of mega LED screens, plus private booths that can fit an entire football team.
Starting at 3pm, The Star’s signature five-star hotel, The Star Grand, welcomes its first full house for opening night, with all 340 luxurious rooms booked, including 60 suites and four ultra-luxury Skyline Penthouse Suites.
Capacity occupancy continues right across the weekend, coinciding with the festive excitement of the Brisbane Festival and the dazzling Riverfire celebrations.
At night, the spotlight will be on Japanese restaurant Sokyo, where Australia’s acclaimed ‘Sashimi Florist’ Alex Yu will welcome his first guests. Diners can look forward to an exquisite fusion of traditional and modern Japanese cuisine, guaranteed to captivate even the city’s most discerning palates.
Soaring overhead will be the new Sky Deck, at 100m high, which will invite guests to enjoy the sunset and city lights with its awe-inspiring views. The first of its sky-high Sky Deck venues the Cicada Blu bar will also open from 5pm today.
Landmark moment for Brisbane
The Star Brisbane CEO, Daniel Finch, said the highly anticipated opening was a landmark moment.
“Today is a historic occasion not just for Brisbane, but all of Australia. Our incredible team of nearly 3,000 dedicated individuals have poured heart and soul into creating a resort that will redefine entertainment and hospitality standards in our city,” Finch said.
“We are thrilled to welcome everyone to experience the magic and momentum of The Star Brisbane, a destination that has been years in the making and is set to elevate our city onto the global stage.”
The opening weekend promises an array of entertainment, with live performances and dynamic acts across the resort from Thursday, 29 August to Sunday, 1 September. Saturday night is set to feature the local NRL derby, Battle of Brisbane, in the Dolphins vs. Broncos home game live and loud. The Brisbane Festival’s Riverfire will also light up the skies above the resort and precinct.
All-day dining venues
The Star Brisbane’s phased opening ensures there’s always something new on the horizon with a steady stream of new restaurants and bar openings. All-day dining venue Babblers and elevated dining destination Aloria are expected to join Cicada Blu in the coming months.
Meanwhile, confirmed openings from September to November include The Terrace, comprising authentic Italian family dining Cucina Regina, Ghanem Group’s newest South-East Asian venture Lúc Lắc, Potentia Solution Leisure’s take on Latin American Azteca, a new iteration of Gambaro Group’s Black Hide Steak & Seafood, plus Mediterranean-inspired Dark Shepherd and French champagne bar and restaurant Pompette from local restaurant titan Tassis Group.
Once fully operational, The Star Brisbane and Queen’s Wharf Brisbane are expected to attract approximately
1.4 million additional visitors to Queensland each year.
Queen’s Wharf Brisbane is being delivered by Destination Brisbane Consortium – a joint venture led by The Star Entertainment Group alongside its Hong Kong-based partners, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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