Palazzo Versace Australia

Palazzo Versace
Palazzo Versace logo
General information
Location	94 Seaworld Drive Main Beach, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	27°58′01″S 153°25′33″E / 27.966991°S 153.425939°E / -27.966991; 153.425939Coordinates: 27°58′01″S 153°25′33″E / 27.966991°S 153.425939°E / -27.966991; 153.425939
Opening	2000
Owner	Sunland Group Ltd and Emirates Investments Group Australia Pty Ltd
Technical details
Floor count	5
Design and construction
Architect	Rocco Magnoli
Developer	Sunland Group Ltd
Other information
Number of rooms	200
Number of restaurants	3
Number of bars	2
Parking	300+
Website
www.palazzoversace.com

Palazzo Versace (meaning Versace Palace) is a luxury 5 star hotel located by the broadwater and Marina Mirage shopping complex at Main Beach on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The luxury resort hotel is also situated across the road from the Sheraton Mirage, down the road from the theme park, Sea World, as well as being within close proximity of the Gold Coast's main beach strip. It is known for being the choice of accommodation for many high profile figures and celebrities when staying in the Gold Coast. The design and building of the resort hotel was overlooked by the House of the iconic fashion brand, Versace, in Milan, Italy. A Versace retail store is situated within the hotel, which sells various products of the brand's latest fashions, including clothing, jewellery, shoes and homewares. More recently, another Palazzo Versace resort hotel has been built in Dubai.

History

Soheil Abedian of the Sunland Group visited the House of Versace in 1997 to propose the idea of a Versace branded hotel. He claims Palazzo Versace Gold Coast to be the first fashion-branded hotel. On his reasons for approaching Versace, Abedian says "Gianni Versace was a lover of architecture in the first place, a person who used in his fashion all the elements of the Baroque style. ... Also, Versace was the only fashion house at the time that had a home collection and everything that a hotel needed from the porcelain to cutlery, pillows to fabric."^[1] The main building was designed by chief architect Rocco Magnoli in Postmodern architecture style in a broad interpretation of Neoclassical architecture. In September 2000, Palazzo Versace opened its doors and created a new luxury address on a historic site in Southern Queensland on the edge of the Gold Coast Broadwater.

In 2005, Emirates International Holdings acquired 50% of Palazzo Versace Gold Coast at the same time entering into a joint venture to develop a chain of hotels including a similar hotel in Dubai. It is the only 8-star Hotel in the world.^[2] In September 2012 a conditional contract was entered into to sell the hotel complex to a Chinese consortium for A$68.5 million, with settlement expected 30 November.^[3]

Hotel and condominiums

Panoramic view of the resort.

Palazzo Versace Lobby

Palazzo Versace has 200 hotel rooms and suites and seventy-two neighbouring condominiums, three restaurants and a main bar area. Palazzo Versace also has its own private 90 berth marina, and underground carpark.^[4]

Meetings and Events

The hotel boasts 3 meeting venues. La Medusa Ballroom, Finestra and the Boardroom. The La Medusa ballroom features room for up to 500 people. The ballroom mostly caters for weddings, social events and school formals.

Health and Wellbeing

The Palazzo Versace Spa is one of the finest on the Gold Coast. Featuring a range of treatments from Australian Spa brand 'Aurora Spa Retreat'. The spa features 2 large, temperature controlled pools for the enjoyment of spa patrons. The hotel also features a large fitness centre, with all of the latest gym equipment. The hotel's main pool is for the exclusive use of all guests and condominium owners. It features a large crystal blue pool and sunken sand beach, surrounded by luxury cabanas, which can be hired for exclusive use.

Dining facilities

Palazzo Versace Lounge

Palazzo Versace has three restaurants and a main bar area. These are Vanitas, Le Jardin, Il Barocco Restaurant and Vie Bar + Restaurant Vanitas is the main dining restaurant. Guests can choose from the seven course degustation menu or to dine a-la-carte.^[5] Vie Bar + Restaurant overlooks the private marina and Broadwater. The bar and restaurant specialises in contemporary cuisine.^[6] Il Barocco serves full buffet breakfast and a-la-carte lunch daily. Each evening there is a Seafood buffet dinner or guests can choose from the a-la-carte menu.^[7] Le Jardin is a bar, which serves Morning or Afternoon Tea or Champagne High Tea.^[8]

Celebrity guests

Celebrities from all around the world have chosen to stay at Palazzo Versace.^[9][10] Rock bands on tour that have stayed at the Imperial Suite have included U2,^[11] and the Rolling Stones. Both rock bands commuted by private jet from the Gold Coast to perform shows in Brisbane. Other high profile guests have included Mel Gibson, Bill Gates, Drake and Ruby Rose.Natalie Imbruglia has dined at the hotel's restaurant.^[10] Every year, the hotel is used in the German (RTL) and UK TV series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. The hotel houses the families, hosts and celebrities who are evicted from the program. All of Supafest 2012 performers, including Chris Brown and Ludacris, stayed at the hotel during their tour. More recently, other stars who have stayed in-house have included Snoop Dogg, Beyonce, Jay Z and Rod Stewart.

See also

• Tourism in Australia

References

External links

• Palazzo Versace