Australian gaming operator The Star Entertainment Group has announced that it will officially open its the Star Brisbane property on August 29th of this year, as part of the ‘highly anticipated, multi-phase reveal’ of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane.
Overall, the project is expected to cost some AU$3.6 billion ($2.41 billion), and will open in phases with F&B, public spaces and ‘destinations’ opening from August into September ‘and throughout the remainder of 2024’.
The announcement was made via a social media post on Sunday.
The first phase includes the new Sky Deck, Miller Park and Neville Bonner Bridge – linking Queen’s Wharf to the SouthBank.
Other offerings will include the Event Center, while five-star The Star Grand hotel will be accepting bookings ‘very soon’.
The Star Brisbane CEO, Daniel Finch, noted that “not everything will open all at once on day one”, indicating that returning guests will ‘find something new to experience”.
“We want to ensure our team members are prepared, our facilities have been tested, our processes are right and importantly our guests have an exceptional experience,” highlights the executive.
Queen’s Wharf Brisbane is a joint venture project between The Star and Hong Kong-listed global conglomerates Far East Consortium and Chow Tai Fook.
The company underwent a series of capital raising exercises, including more investment from its joint venture partners, in order to finish work on the project while also handling the backlash (including fines and court cases) linked to previous AML/CTF failings.
The group is also still facing an inquiry into its suitability to operate its Sydney casino (the Bell Two inquiry), and has undergone significant executive changes – including the appointment of former Crown CEO Steve McCann as the group’s new CEO and Managing Director in late June (following the resignation of former Chairman David Foster) – effective July 8th.
There were also reportedly discussions of a takeover bid for The Star, which were later denied.
The Star recently announced that it was expecting lower sequential revenue in the quarter ending June 30th, as revenue from premium customers declines, the economic environment lags and expenses from its remediation efforts mount.
It expects group revenue for its fiscal year to be between $1.11 billion and $1.12 billion.
