Balfour- Rowena Cornwell, Jude Turner, Matt Simpson
	Balfour External
	Spicers Balfour

Inner-Brisbane retreat Spicers Balfour Hotel has been recognised as one of the world’s best boutique hotels, taking out a top international design award.

The stylish nine-room property, located in New Farm, Brisbane, won Best Hotel Under 50 Rooms and was the only Australian hotel to be recognised at The International Hotel & Property Awards in London last week.

Hosted by leading London-based design magazine Design et al, the awards recognise the best in hospitality interior design and architecture from across the globe. The winners were announced in a gala ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.

Located just three kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, Spicers Balfour Hotel opened its doors in September 2010 as part of the Spicers Retreats, Hotels and Lodges portfolio of seven boutique properties owned by Flight Centre founder and managing director Graham Turner and his wife Jude.

Originally built in 1901, the building is a grand three-storey Queenslander that once housed returned World War II servicemen. In 2010, Brisbane-based designers Coop Creative and the Spicers Group developed the Queenslander into a contemporary nine-room boutique hotel with a vision to offer a unique, intimate and stylish city retreat for corporate and leisure travellers.

Coop Creative specialises in bespoke residential and commercial interiors and has won several other Australian-based design awards for its work at Spicers Balfour.
“Externally Balfour draws its inspiration from the historic and grand Queenslanders for which New Farm is known, however the interior reveals an unexpected contemporary European design which is eclectic, quirky and comforting,” Coop Creative director Rowena Cornwell said.

“The owners recognised that travellers commute between cities on a regular, even daily, basis these days, so their vision was to create a destination with the comfort and welcoming feel of home, but the class and character of a luxury international hotel you would find in London or New York City.

“Brisbane lacked a truly first-class, luxurious boutique hotel catering for business travellers and Spicers Balfour Hotel has filled this need.”

Spicers Balfour Hotel general manager Matthew Simpson said Spicers Balfour provided the privacy and comfort lacking in larger generic hotels.

“We aimed to create an inner-city oasis which would provide guests with all the comfort and privacy of a luxury home, but with an artistic, contemporary edge, all set within the heart of New Farm’s thriving art and culture scene,” he said.
“We are so delighted to be recognised in these prestigious awards amongst the world’s best.”

A palette of grey, purple, mauve and blue with navy and turquoise highlights has been used throughout the property, as well as a mixture of old and contemporary furnishings.

Each guest room has a unique aspect and individual elegance and charm, featuring the finest Society Italian bed linens, spacious bathrooms with lush toiletries, state of the art Bose sound systems, iPod docking stations, a Nespresso coffee machine, comfortable work spaces and internet facilities.

The hotel also features a rooftop bar with spectacular views of the city skyline and Story Bridge and some of the original images of the construction of the bridge from the State Library archives.

The hotel’s corridors are also filled with contemporary artworks through a collaborative initiative with local gallery Jan Manton Art. Every 3 months, a new “Art Balfour” show is exhibited ensuring locals, first-timers and repeat clientele are given the opportunity to experience the latest in Australian art trends in a unique setting.

The hotel also offers a spacious veranda with breakfast open to the public daily, a stylish boardroom for meetings of up to 18 delegates, library, massage room, free Wi-Fi and free parking.

Spicers Balfour Hotel has won numerous awards including Best New Tourism Development at the2011 Queensland Tourism Awards and is currently ranked #1 Brisbane hotel on Tripadvisor.