New hotel high-rise for Brisbane

The first hotel high-rise in the Brisbane CBD for more than a decade has been approved. Brisbane City Council's planning sub-committee unanimously approved the $90 million, four-star Novotel Hotel for vacant land at 40 Elizabeth Street.

The five-star Marriott Brisbane, which opened 12 years ago, was the last major hotel development in the city.

Melbourne-based subsidiary of Action Group Holdings, owned by Kuwaiti Sheikh Mubarak Abdullah Al Mubarak Al Sabah, purchased the Elizabeth Street block in 2008.

Under plans submitted to council last October, the sheikh's 27-level, 289-room development will boast a grand staircase and all-day dining and bar areas.

At the time, the Kuwaiti said he aimed to build affordable hotels "a notch above the tier guidelines".

"We look to service niche corporate and tourism traffic in gateway locations within cities, strategic sectors, and primary tourist destinations," he said in a statement.

Action Group Australia managing director Andrew Nehme said the 100-metre hotel high-rise will provide serviced guest rooms with views overlooking the Treasury Heritage precinct, Queens Park, the Brisbane River and South-Bank.

AGA planned to complete the new hotel early this year, but approval delays have meant the development will not finish until early 2012.

The building will comprise of three distinct parts, including a podium, tower and crown.

The tower will rise 24 levels above the podium.