QHA_February_Mag_Web

ACCOMMODATION
HONG KONG’S OVOLO TAKES A SHINE TO BRISBANE
QHA REVIEW | 38
Ovolo Group has followed up last year’s purchase of
the New Inchcolm Hotel & Suites (now Ovolo Inchcolm
Brisbane) with its acquisition of the Emporium Hotel in
Fortitude Valley.
The Hong Kong-based boutique hotel chain’s
$16.5M purchase will be settled in April, bringing its
portfolio of Australian hotels to five including Ovolo
Woolloomooloo and Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour in
Sydney, and Ovolo Laneways in Melbourne.
Ovolo’s founder Girish Jhunjhnuwala said he was
excited by the opportunity to take the property to the
next level with Ovolo’s signature luxury design interiors
and “all-inclusive” hospitality concept.
“The Emporium Hotel in Brisbane was an obvious
choice for the brand given its incredible success to
date, its boutique nature and appealing location in the
Fortitude Valley retail and dining precinct,” he said.
The Emporium Hotel was touted as Brisbane’s first
luxury boutique accommodation venue when it was
opened by Anthony John Group in 2007. It includes
a rooftop pool, gym and sauna, cocktail bar and
patisserie as well as conference and events space.
Founder and managing director Tony John said the
sale would allow the group to concentrate its energies
on a new project in South Bank.
“We’ve decided the time is right to sell our Fortitude
Valley property, allowing the team to focus on the 2018
opening of our luxury boutique Southpoint Emporium
Hotel,” Tony said.
Ovolo was founded in 2002 and operates five boutique
properties in Hong Kong.