JD Properties Acquires George Williams Hotel in Brisbane, Australia
Jaleel family’s Singapore-based JD Properties, through its investment and asset management arm High Street Holdings, has acquired the 102-key George Williams Hotel in Brisbane’s Central Business District from Australia-based YMCA Queensland for an undisclosed sum. Market sources indicate that the acquisition price is estimated at AUD34 million, translating to approximately AUD333,333 a key. Located at the corner of George and Turbot Streets, the property occupies a 680 square metres (“sqm”) freehold site zoned as Principal Centre, offering easy access to Queen Street Mall, Queen’s Wharf Casino precinct, South Bank, and Roma Street Station. The hotel features a leased restaurant, meeting facilities, on-site parking, and has recently undergone over AUD1.2 million in refurbishments, including upgrades to two guestroom floors. The property will be rebranded as George Hotel Brisbane and adds to High Street Holdings’ Australian portfolio, which includes the 120-key Rydges Perth Kings Square, 167-key The Miller Hotel, and 108-key Kennigo Hotel Brisbane. YMCA Queensland acquired the property for AUD2.6 million in 1996 from Australia-based Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Tang Shing-bor Family Sells Hotel Victoria Tsim Sha Tsui for HKD118 Million in Hong Kong
Hong Kong-based Tang Shing-bor family has sold the 45-key Hotel Victoria Tsim Sha Tsui at 80 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, for HKD118 million to a Mainland Chinese–backed education institution. This translates to approximately HKD2.6 million a key. The 13-storey property occupies a site area of approximately 176.2 square metres (“sqm”) and offers a total gross floor area of 1851 sqm. It comprises 45 guest rooms from the basement to the 12th floor, while the ground and basement levels are used for retail purposes and currently leased to a restaurant. The buyer is reportedly considering converting the hotel into student accommodation. The property was sold together with its existing guesthouse licence, allowing for flexible use as a student hostel, hotel, or serviced apartment. The transaction represents a loss of approximately HKD212 million, or about 64%, from the property’s 2018 purchase price of HKD330 million.
Mercure Hotel Townsville Acquired by New Entrant to Queensland’s Hotel Investment Market, Australia
The Mercure Hotel Townsville, located in Currajong, has been acquired by a new entrant to Queensland’s hotel investment market for an undisclosed sum. Situated in Townsville, a coastal city in northeastern Queensland adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, the property benefits from its location in a major industrial and administrative centre for northern Queensland. The resort-style property features 174 keys and occupies a substantial 43,300 sqm land parcel. Amenities include wellness and recreation facilities such as an outdoor swimming pool, spa, tennis and basketball courts, and a tropical garden spanning approximately 40,000 sqm. Additional offerings include an on-site restaurant and bar, 13 conference and meeting spaces, and on-site parking. The hotel market in Townsville is characterised by limited branded supply and development constraints on new hotel stock, reflected with a tight initial yield of sub 7%. The new owners have opted to retain the Mercure branding under a long-term agreement with Accor.
Allgreen Properties Announces Revamp of Johor Bahru City Square to Capture Cross-Border Demand, Malaysia
Singapore-based Allgreen Properties Limited (“Allgreen Properties”), a member of the Kuok Group, has unveiled plans for a multi-phase asset enhancement initiative (“AEI”) for Johor Bahru City Square (“JBCS”), a mall in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Opened in 1999 and located near the Johor Bahru-Singapore Causeway, JBCS will undergo a substantial upgrade to modernise its offerings and accommodate future demand. The AEI will expand the mall’s total floor space by approximately 1,858 square metres (“sqm”) to 52,855 sqm, enabling over 300 retail outlets. Key features of the redevelopment include: an integrated hotel-apartment, a 1,393 sqm Kids Adventure Park, 3,836 sqm health and wellness hub, and a large-format event space. The redevelopment will be executed across five phases beginning in November 2025, with the mall remaining operational throughout. Completion is expected by the fourth quarter of 2027, with the hotel apartment component scheduled for the second quarter of 2028. The initiative is in time with the upcoming Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System in 2026 expected to enhance connectivity between the two cities.
AB Capital Expands Japan Portfolio with Two Osaka Acquisitions, to Rebrand Under City Express by Marriott
Hong Kong-based private equity real estate firm AB Capital Investment Limited (“AB Capital”) has acquired two hotel properties in Osaka’s Nishinari ward, expanding its Japan hotel portfolio to 11 assets. The two newly acquired hotels will be repositioned under City Express by Marriott, marking the Asia-Pacific debut of US-based Marriott International Inc.’s midscale brand. AB Capital has appointed Pacifica Hotels G.K., a Japan-based third-party operator, as the franchise manager. The first property, City Express by Marriott Shin-Imamiya, is a nine-storey, 100-key hotel located in Haginochaya, adjacent to Shin-Imamiya Station, served by JR West and Nankai Electric Railway. The second property, City Express by Marriott Osaka Namba South, is a 14-storey, 143-key hotel in Hanazonokita, next to Hanazonocho Station on the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line. Both hotels are standalone properties located within established commercial areas with strong connectivity. Renovations are currently underway, with openings scheduled for 2026. The investment strategy is driven by perceived undersupply in Osaka’s midscale accommodation segment and the opportunity to tap into growing demand from domestic and international travellers.
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