InterContinental Brisbane officially opened on July 1, 2025, marking the luxury brand's long-awaited debut in Queensland's capital city. Housed within Harry Seidler's iconic Modernist building on Queen Street Mall, this 321-room property represents the transformation of the former Hilton Brisbane (closed March 31, 2025 after nearly 40 years) into InterContinental's signature luxury experience. As the only hotel in Australia designed by renowned architect Harry Seidler, the property undergoes a comprehensive two-year transformation that will elevate guest experiences while preserving the architectural features that define Seidler's Modernist legacy. With Club InterContinental Lounge on Level 25, rooftop pool deck, four restaurants and bars, and direct connection to Queen Street Mall, InterContinental Brisbane provides CBD luxury accommodation during this exciting evolution from heritage hotel to contemporary luxury destination.
Harry Seidler's Architectural Legacy & Brand Transformation
InterContinental Brisbane stands as the only hotel in Australia designed by Harry Seidler, one of the country's most celebrated architects known for introducing European Modernism to Australian architecture. Originally completed in 1986 as Hilton Brisbane, Seidler's design showcases clean geometric lines, sculptural concrete forms, and integration with Brisbane's urban fabric that characterized his architectural philosophy throughout a six-decade career. The building's position on Queen Street Mall—Brisbane's premier pedestrian precinct—creates immediate connectivity between the hotel and the city's retail, dining, and cultural heart, with floor-to-ceiling windows in public spaces framing views of Brisbane's evolving skyline.
The conversion from Hilton to InterContinental represents more than a simple rebranding—IHG Hotels & Resorts and property owner ISPT committed to a comprehensive two-year transformation program designed to elevate the hotel to contemporary luxury standards while respecting Seidler's original design intent. This phased renovation approach allows the hotel to welcome guests during the transformation, with improvements rolling out progressively through 2027. The architectural preservation focus ensures that defining Seidler elements—including the dramatic lobby atrium, sculptural staircase, and geometric facade treatments—remain integral to the reimagined InterContinental experience, creating a bridge between Brisbane's architectural heritage and modern luxury hospitality expectations.
July 1, 2025 Opening Context
InterContinental Brisbane's July 1, 2025 opening date marks a significant milestone for both IHG's Australian portfolio and Brisbane's luxury accommodation landscape. With this debut, InterContinental now operates three Queensland properties alongside InterContinental Hayman Island Resort Great Barrier Reef and InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, positioning Brisbane as a business-focused complement to those leisure-oriented coastal destinations. The timing coincides with Brisbane's preparation for the 2032 Olympic Games and ongoing CBD revitalization projects including Queen's Wharf precinct, positioning InterContinental Brisbane to serve the surge in international business and leisure travel expected throughout the late 2020s.
However, guests booking stays during 2025-2027 should understand that the hotel operates in an active transformation state, with renovation works progressing across different areas while maintaining guest services. Early TripAdvisor reviews (9 reviews, 3.0/5 rating, #131 of 165 Brisbane hotels) reflect this transition period, with guests noting both the promise of the InterContinental brand and the ongoing nature of refurbishments. This context creates opportunities for value-conscious travellers willing to embrace the evolution-in-progress atmosphere in exchange for InterContinental rates potentially below market levels for fully renovated luxury properties.
Room Categories & Ongoing Transformation
InterContinental Brisbane offers 321 guest rooms across multiple categories, with each accommodation featuring views across Brisbane's skyline toward the Brisbane River, Botanic Gardens, or surrounding CBD. Room designs reflect the transition from the former Hilton configuration to InterContinental's elevated standards, with early guest reviews describing rooms as "bright and airy" with "great bathrooms and comfy king size beds," while also noting that some presentations appear "a little dated" pending scheduled refurbishments. This honest feedback captures the reality of staying during an active transformation—guests experience InterContinental service standards and brand benefits within spaces undergoing progressive enhancement toward full luxury presentation by 2027.
Standard Rooms & Deluxe Rooms
Standard and Deluxe Rooms provide the hotel's core accommodation, ranging from 28-35 square metres with king or twin bed configurations. These rooms feature work desks with ergonomic seating and task lighting, flat-screen TVs with international channels, minibars, electronic safes, and ensuite bathrooms with walk-in showers (select rooms include bathtubs). Floor-to-ceiling windows maximize natural light and city views—a hallmark of Seidler's design philosophy that prioritizes connection between interior spaces and urban context. In-room amenities include complimentary WiFi, Nespresso coffee machines, luxury toiletries, and bathrobes/slippers, creating comfortable bases for both business and leisure stays.
As renovations progress through 2025-2027, these rooms will receive updated soft furnishings, contemporary color palettes aligned with InterContinental's design language, enhanced bathroom fittings, and technology upgrades including USB charging ports and smart room controls. Early-stay guests may encounter rooms in various transformation stages—some fully refreshed to InterContinental standards, others retaining elements from the Hilton era pending scheduled upgrades. This variability explains the mixed presentation feedback in early reviews, with the understanding that the entire inventory will achieve consistent luxury standards upon transformation completion.
Club Level Rooms & Suites
Club Level accommodations provide enhanced room categories with access to the Club InterContinental Lounge on Level 25, where guests enjoy complimentary continental breakfast, afternoon tea, evening canapés, and premium beverage selections throughout the day. Club Rooms mirror standard room layouts with upgraded amenities including pillow menus, enhanced bathroom products, express check-in/checkout, and priority reservations for hotel restaurants. The Club Lounge itself offers panoramic Brisbane views from its elevated position, creating an exclusive retreat for business travellers and loyalty program members seeking privacy away from public areas.
Suites range from Junior Suites (45-50 square metres) to larger Executive Suites (65-75 square metres) with separate living areas, dining tables for four, and wraparound city views from corner positions. Early guest reviews describe suites as "outstanding, clean and well appointed," suggesting that these premium categories may have received prioritized attention during the initial transformation phase. Suite guests receive Club Lounge access, complimentary pressing service for two items per day, and personalized concierge services for restaurant bookings, transportation arrangements, and Brisbane itinerary planning. The additional space particularly suits families, extended stays, or business travellers hosting in-room meetings during Brisbane conference visits.
Rooftop Pool Deck & Wellness Facilities
InterContinental Brisbane's rooftop pool deck occupies an elevated position offering Brisbane skyline views across the CBD and toward the Brisbane River. Guest reviews describe the pool area as having a "relaxing atmosphere," with the elevated setting providing natural separation from street-level urban energy. The pool itself serves as a lap pool configuration suitable for morning swims and afternoon relaxation, surrounded by sun loungers and shade structures for Queensland's subtropical climate. While not a resort-scale pool complex, the rooftop location creates a distinctive amenity unavailable at all Brisbane CBD hotels, particularly valued by business travellers seeking post-meeting exercise or leisure guests wanting swimming facilities without leaving the city center.
The adjacent fitness centre features a "well-equipped gym" according to early guest feedback, with cardiovascular equipment (treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes), resistance machines, free weights, and stretching zones. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame city views during workouts, maintaining Seidler's architectural emphasis on visual connection with Brisbane's urban landscape. The fitness facility operates 24 hours for hotel guests, accommodating early-morning training sessions before business meetings or late-evening workouts following conference days. As transformation works progress, the wellness facilities will receive equipment upgrades and potential expansion to meet InterContinental's global standards for luxury hotel fitness offerings.
Four Restaurants & Bars (Under Development)
InterContinental Brisbane's dining program will ultimately encompass four restaurants and bars, creating diverse culinary experiences ranging from casual all-day dining to specialty concepts showcasing Queensland produce and Brisbane's evolving food culture. During the transformation period, food and beverage operations evolve progressively as spaces receive renovations and new concepts launch. Guests staying during 2025 should verify current dining availability through the hotel directly, as restaurant openings roll out across the two-year transformation timeline rather than all launching simultaneously at the July 1, 2025 opening.
The dining vision includes an all-day dining restaurant for breakfast buffets and a la carte lunch/dinner service, a specialty restaurant highlighting contemporary Australian cuisine with Queensland seafood and regional ingredients, a lobby bar for cocktails and light bites, and a rooftop bar capitalizing on the building's elevated position with Brisbane skyline views. This multi-venue approach aligns with InterContinental's global strategy of creating destination dining that attracts both hotel guests and Brisbane locals, contributing to the Queen Street Mall precinct's culinary landscape. As each venue completes its transformation and launches, the hotel's dining profile will strengthen significantly beyond the baseline services available during early operation months.
Conference Facilities & Business Services
InterContinental Brisbane maintains comprehensive conference and events facilities inherited from the property's nearly 40-year history as a major CBD meeting venue, with capacity for corporate conferences, training sessions, weddings, and social events. The property features meeting rooms ranging from intimate boardrooms for 10-12 people to larger ballroom configurations accommodating several hundred guests for gala dinners, award ceremonies, or association conferences. A dedicated business center provides computer workstations, printing/copying services, and private meeting spaces for ad-hoc business requirements, while the hotel's Queen Street Mall location enables walking access for delegates staying throughout Brisbane's CBD hotel inventory.
As part of the transformation to InterContinental standards, meeting spaces will receive technology upgrades including enhanced AV systems, high-speed WiFi infrastructure, and potentially hybrid meeting capabilities supporting virtual attendees alongside in-person delegates. The catering program will evolve to reflect InterContinental's culinary standards, with menu options showcasing Queensland produce and contemporary Australian cuisine. Conference organizers booking events during the 2025-2027 transformation period should communicate directly with the hotel's events team to understand which spaces have completed renovations and which facilities remain in original configurations pending scheduled upgrades.
Prime Queen Street Mall Location
InterContinental Brisbane's position on Queen Street Mall—Australia's most visited shopping precinct with over 26 million annual visitors—provides unmatched retail and entertainment access. The hotel's ground-floor presence connects directly to the pedestrian mall, placing guests steps from 700+ retailers, department stores (Myer, David Jones), international brands, specialty boutiques, and dozens of dining options. This integration into Brisbane's commercial heart particularly benefits leisure travellers who want shopping convenience and business delegates requiring easy access to CBD offices and corporate headquarters clustered around the mall precinct.
Public transport connections include multiple bus routes on Adelaide Street (one block away) and Queen Street bus station providing services throughout Brisbane metropolitan area. Central Station lies 5 minutes away on foot, offering Airtrain services to Brisbane Airport (25 minutes, AUD $19.50 one-way) and connections to Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and regional Queensland destinations. For cultural attractions, South Bank Parklands and Queensland Cultural Centre (QAGOMA, Queensland Museum, State Library) sit 10-15 minutes away via Victoria Bridge, creating walkable access to Brisbane's premier museums and galleries. The Queen's Wharf precinct—Brisbane's $3.6 billion integrated resort opening in stages through 2024-2025—lies adjacent to the hotel, with new restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues expanding the area's leisure offerings.
IHG One Rewards & InterContinental Ambassador Program
InterContinental Brisbane participates in IHG One Rewards, the loyalty program spanning 6,000+ IHG hotels globally including InterContinental, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and other brands. Membership is completely free, with guests earning 10 points per USD $1 spent on eligible room rates, dining, and services. Points accumulate toward free night awards starting at 10,000 points for Category 1 hotels, with InterContinental Brisbane likely classified as a higher category reflecting its luxury positioning and CBD location. Elite status tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) provide progressively enhanced benefits including room upgrades, late checkout, bonus point earning, and complimentary breakfast at select brands.
The InterContinental Ambassador program offers the most comprehensive benefits specifically for InterContinental properties at an annual cost of USD $225 (or 45,000 IHG One Rewards points). Ambassador membership includes:
- Platinum Elite status benefits: Guaranteed room upgrades and late checkout (4pm) when available
- Complimentary weekend night: One free weekend night certificate attached to any paid stay
- Dining credits: Up to USD $20 per stay toward hotel restaurants and bars
- Club InterContinental Lounge access: Daily continental breakfast, afternoon tea, evening canapés, and premium beverages
- Welcome amenity: Fruit platter or similar welcome gesture upon arrival
- Guaranteed availability: Standard room availability within 48 hours of booking (subject to terms)
For frequent InterContinental guests or those planning multiple stays across IHG's Australian InterContinental properties (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hayman Island, Sanctuary Cove, Adelaide), the USD $225 annual investment can deliver significant value through dining credits alone (USD $20 x 12 stays = USD $240 value), before considering the complimentary weekend night certificate (worth AUD $300-500 depending on property). Business travellers rotating through Australian capital cities for conferences or corporate meetings can leverage Ambassador benefits across multiple properties, maximizing the program's return on investment.
Booking Direct Benefits & Early-Stay Considerations
Booking directly through InterContinental Brisbane's website or IHG's mobile app/website typically provides best available rates along with benefits including flexible cancellation policies (when selecting flexible rates), guaranteed IHG One Rewards point earning, and member-exclusive promotions. During the transformation period, the hotel may offer promotional rates or value-added packages designed to attract guests willing to stay during renovation works—these can represent excellent value for travellers prioritizing price over complete luxury presentation. Current pricing starts from approximately AUD $246/night for standard rooms, positioning InterContinental Brisbane competitively within Brisbane's luxury hotel market.
However, prospective guests should approach bookings during 2025-2027 with clear understanding of the ongoing transformation context. While InterContinental service standards and brand recognition provide confidence, the property operates in an active evolution state with renovations progressing across different areas. Communicating directly with the hotel before booking allows potential guests to understand which areas have completed refurbishments, whether any construction noise or access limitations might affect stays, and what dining/facility options will be available during specific visit dates. This transparency helps set appropriate expectations—guests seeking fully realized luxury may prefer waiting until transformation completion in 2027, while value-conscious travellers can embrace the transition period as an opportunity to experience InterContinental Brisbane at potentially favorable rates.
Guest Reviews & Transition Period Context
InterContinental Brisbane holds 9 reviews on TripAdvisor with a 3.0 of 5 rating, ranking #131 of 165 hotels in Brisbane as of late 2025. This limited review count and mid-tier rating directly reflect the hotel's very recent opening (July 1, 2025) and ongoing transformation from the former Hilton Brisbane. Early reviews capture the property in transition, with guests experiencing a mix of InterContinental service standards, rooms in various stages of refurbishment, and facilities undergoing progressive enhancement. This context makes the current rating less indicative of the hotel's ultimate potential than the trajectory toward 2027 transformation completion.
Guest feedback highlights several key themes. Positive comments consistently praise the hotel's central Queen Street Mall location, with convenient access to shopping, dining, public transport, and CBD business districts receiving universal approval. Guests also note friendly, professional service from staff navigating the brand transition, suggesting that InterContinental's hospitality training has successfully transferred to the new operation. Reviews describing suites as "outstanding, clean and well appointed" indicate that premium accommodations may have received prioritized renovation attention, offering fully realized InterContinental standards for guests willing to invest in higher room categories.
Constructive Feedback & Evolution Perspective
Constructive reviews mention that some rooms feel "a little dated" pending scheduled refurbishments—honest feedback reflecting the reality that a comprehensive two-year transformation cannot renovate 321 rooms simultaneously. Guests booking during this period should understand that room presentations vary depending on whether specific accommodations have completed renovation or await scheduled upgrades. The hotel's room assignment process may prioritize returning guests, IHG One Rewards elite members, and suite bookings for refurbished inventory, meaning that base-category bookings at promotional rates may encounter rooms retaining elements from the Hilton era.
The limited TripAdvisor review count (9 reviews) prevents comprehensive statistical analysis of guest satisfaction—a sample size insufficient for drawing definitive conclusions about service quality, facility standards, or value proposition. As more guests stay throughout late 2025 and into 2026, the review profile will expand to provide clearer insights into InterContinental Brisbane's performance during the transformation period. Prospective guests should monitor review trends over coming months, looking for patterns in feedback regarding room quality, service consistency, dining experiences, and construction impact (if any) on guest experiences.
Why Stay at InterContinental Brisbane
InterContinental Brisbane appeals to several distinct traveller segments despite its early-stage operation and ongoing transformation. IHG One Rewards members—particularly those with Platinum/Diamond elite status or InterContinental Ambassador memberships—benefit from leveraging existing loyalty benefits in Brisbane's CBD, earning points toward future awards while enjoying familiar brand standards and recognition. The hotel represents the only InterContinental option in Brisbane, making it the logical choice for IHG loyalists prioritizing brand consistency over exploring Brisbane's diverse accommodation landscape.
Business travellers attending conferences or meetings in Brisbane's CBD benefit from the central Queen Street Mall location, with walking access to corporate offices, government buildings, and meeting venues eliminating transport logistics. The comprehensive conference facilities, business center, Club InterContinental Lounge, and in-room work spaces create supportive environments for productive stays, while IHG One Rewards earning helps corporate travellers accumulate points when company policies require specific hotel chains. The proximity to Central Station (5 minutes) facilitates efficient airport transfers and interstate travel for multi-city business itineraries.
Architecture enthusiasts and cultural travellers may appreciate the opportunity to stay in Harry Seidler's only Australian hotel design, experiencing Modernist architecture from within while supporting the preservation of Brisbane's built heritage. The transformation approach—enhancing luxury standards while retaining Seidler's defining design elements—creates a case study in adaptive reuse of significant 1980s architecture. Guests interested in architectural tourism can explore Seidler's vision while enjoying contemporary InterContinental hospitality, adding cultural dimension to Brisbane accommodation choices.
Booking Considerations & Alternatives
However, travellers seeking fully realized luxury experiences without transformation-period compromises should consider alternative Brisbane hotels that have completed renovations and achieved stable operation. Properties like Emporium Hotel South Bank (#1 Brisbane hotel on TripAdvisor), W Brisbane (2018 opening, fully matured), Crystalbrook Vincent (sustainable luxury, complete), and The Star Grand (August 2024 opening, newer) offer contemporary presentations without the variability inherent in a property undergoing active transformation. These alternatives may provide more consistent luxury experiences for milestone celebrations, honeymoons, or special occasions where guests prioritize flawless presentations over loyalty program benefits or architectural heritage.
For value-conscious travellers, InterContinental Brisbane during 2025-2027 may present opportunities to experience InterContinental service and brand standards at rates potentially below market levels for fully renovated luxury hotels. Promotional rates, advance purchase discounts, and IHG One Rewards member offers could deliver compelling value for guests with flexible expectations regarding room presentations and facility availability. The key lies in approaching bookings with clear understanding of the transformation context, direct communication with the hotel regarding current conditions, and realistic expectations aligned with a property in evolution rather than a completed luxury product. For these travellers, InterContinental Brisbane offers a unique Brisbane experience—witnessing and participating in the transformation of a heritage hotel into contemporary luxury, housed within Australia's only Harry Seidler hotel architecture.
