Royal Albert Hotel
A statement in sophistication, the Royal Albert Hotel has managed to develop and remain a part of Brisbane city for nearly a century.
From its famed beginnings in 1913 as Brisbane’s tallest building, to its current status as one of the city’s foremost boutique hotels, the history of the property is as multi-faceted, impressive and beautiful as its prized apartments. The property is even still considered to be the tallest timber structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
Fully restored as a heritage building in 1995 by FKP, in an old English style with wide hallways, intricate cornices and original artwork by William Torrance plus artfully spacious rooms all situated in the heart of Brisbane, there was nothing Peter and Kristina Tyrer could see that could have stopped them from purchasing the management rights for this breathtaking hotel in 1998 – and thank goodness, for the hotel has come on in leaps and bounds ever since.
With nine levels and 73 rooms, this boutique hotel leaves no stone unturned when it comes to quality and service.
“We have more space than other hotels, with a special ambiance not found anywhere else.
Plus we have a high level of room facilities including modern entertainment, luxury minibars and wireless broadband Internet access.”
With the added bonus of modern amenities, the Royal Albert exudes the comfort and beauty of its rich history; 12 foot ceilings decorated with detailed ceiling roses, property-owned fine china, the largest collection of original William Torrance oil paintings in the world, illustrate but a few of the aesthetic wonders of the hotel building.
Now a leading Brisbane boutique hotel, Royal Albert sports some of the city’s largest deluxe hotel rooms, stylish one- and two-bedroom suites and immaculate sub-penthouse apartments; all beautifully refurbished in November 2008 by Noble House Design to further reflect the building’s rich heritage. This included mahogany furniture, plush fabrics, LCD TVs, DVDs, CD players and clock radios with iPod docks.”
This unique hotel also proudly features full kitchens, laundry facilities and dry cleaning services, as well as free daily newspapers, baby-sitters, an on-site restaurant, tour desk and 24-hour reception, WiFi Internet, room service, elevator access and valet parking.
Security and privacy are also assured, with guest access restricted to the floor that houses their room. Royal Albert also boasts a no party policy for their guests’ comfort and is an established non-smoking facility.
The stunning location of the hotel alone provides astonishing appeal. As the Tyrers elaborate, “Royal Albert provides perfect accommodation for the Brisbane sightseer. Only a short walk away from the Southbank Parklands, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and our state museum, top nightclubs and concert venues are also close by. If you want to change speed, there’s also the Roma Street Parklands, Botanical Gardens and Brisbane River within easy walking distance.”
Notably, Brisbane’s Queen St mall, the Myer Centre and Albert Stt restaurant precinct are all on Royal Albert’s doorstep as well, and with Brisbane’s business centre, Treasury Casino, theatres, shopping centres and a plethora of iconic eateries all within arm’s reach, it’s an incredibly wonderful place to spend a holiday.
Moreover, guests would have to try very hard to find a hotel where they are cared for by as personable and friendly a staff as they will find within the walls of Royal Albert. This is something that the Tyrers and indeed the entire hotel, very much prides itself on.
The friendly atmosphere originates, in part, from the Tyrers’ own appreciation for others, Kristina explains, “I lived on the Gold Coast and love the daily interaction with people from all walks of life, so hospitality seemed the logical direction.
“I started at Beach Haven,” she goes on to say, “with David and Jo Ruxton who took me under their wing and mentored me. When the opportunity came to take on Royal Albert, it was David who gave me the confidence that Pete and I would be successful.”
Clearly what began for them as an earnest endeavor became a highly fruitful working business. Peter and Kristina have now been developing the Royal Albert property for over 12 years and not only have they created their own success story but they have loved every moment they have spent with people in their hotel.
“We’ve had some amazing guests, births and marriages over the last 12 years. It’s been wonderful seeing babies grow into teenagers and teenagers into adults.”
Over the years, the Tyrers have learnt to acknowledge the various hardships within the industry. “Being a Brisbane CBD hotel, our occupancy is excellent but we are mindful that many of our colleagues on the Gold and Sunshine coasts and FNQ have been doing it particularly tough this year.”
Acknowledging the possibility of hardship within the industry has done nothing to stunt the growth of Royal Albert, however, as the foyer and entrance arcade are currently undergoing refurbishment by the same designer who worked on the property in 1995. Peter adds that the next major project will likely be the bathrooms.
Taking an admirably independent stance on the industry, Kristina gently asserts, “AAA assessed us and advised us that the outside of the just painted building was ‘outdated’. Of course it was; it was built in 1913! Because of this, we were marked down one full point. So now we are self-rated.”
The Tyrers’ motivation and drive to develop and improve in their own individualistic fashion, mirroring the brilliant history of the property they manage, is a sure-fire reason guests can expect the Royal Albert Hotel to be in business for many a year to come.
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