Stamford Plaza Brisbane, Brisbane

As a travel professional who has stayed in hundreds of hotels in about 450 destinations around the world, I must say that the owner/managers of Stamford Plaza Brisbane or those at the Group HQ are probably the most sick and twisted I have come across in my 30-year global career. Strong words? What about incompetent, arrogant and ignorant as well? And I am being calmly objective. The story begins with a long-standing invitation by their Marketing Company to stay in this hotel and give it our audit. After several years of eager invitation, I finally found the time after a busy trip to Queensland and South Australia. The Marketing Company happily prepared to set me up for 2 nights,and all references, objectives, etc, had been provided as with all trips and all audits in all hotels around the world these past decades. My company began the usual research and preparation work. Flight-schedules were confirmed and ground-transport was being finalised. Suddenly, everything gets jammed up! The owners/managers refused to reply to their own Marketing Company, keeping us all hanging without a yes or a no. Their stupid excuse - we need to suss this guy out and check the background of the company. Fair enough - but how long does that take? Does Stamford Plaza mean their own Marketing Company, an established international organisation, is that stupid when they make a very strong recommendation? Does it mean my 30-year track-record came out of thin air? When asked why they were dragging their feet, the unintelligent answer was "What's the hurry? Still a few weeks to go". How stupid can you get? Don't Stamford Plaza know that in international travel, schedules are planned well in advance? Don't they know that in ANY business, time is of essence" ? Anyway, to crown their incompetence and sick, twisted mentality, when pushed hard to make a decision either way, they finally said that they do not host host Travel Media. What blithering idiots!!!! Why did they not say that in the first place? A simple, quick 'No' would have been fine. Why waste so much of our precious time and resources, and drag their feet for so long? Why go on an egotistical and pompous ego-trip 'checking backgrounds and vetting work' etc if they don't accomodate Travel Media professionals in the first place? The fact that these people have bought one of Brisbane's prime hotel properties in a great location probably automatically ensures that they will make good money on their investment. But if their behaviour is any indication, the unprofessional owners/managers of Stamford Plaza Brisbane seem to me, to have lots of dollars and very little sense. How long this takes to trickle down to rank and flie is left to be seen, but I, for one, will not recommend dealing with them to any travel-planner, tour-operator or tourism professionalism.

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The young, enthusiastic, and friendly staff could not overcome the lack of attention to detail. Our room had a large old dusty cobweb in the corner. There were no tea and coffee supplies so we had to phone down to reception. We enjoyed the seafood buffet; however, the choice of wines available was very poor and overpriced. To make matters worse, we were double charged for the very average bottle of white wine we did choose to have with our meal. This hotel started out as a really wonderful elegant boutique hotel in a beautiful location - ideal for out of towners like us to frequent. Now it is tired and grubby, with overpriced and below average meals, drinks and services. Jan Carnaffan, Dayboro, Qld.

This is a lovely hotel, gorgeous rooms, exceptional service and the best views in town but .... the airconditioning in any area other than the lobby was appalling!@ This may not be an issue in Winter but in Summer - and let's face it, it is Summer in Brisbane for at least 9 months of the year - the rooms (and corridors leading to the rooms) were like saunas - particularly first thing in the morning. Part of the problem appears to be the fact that the roasting morning sun comes straight in all the rooms without any apparent insulation. This is nice if you don't want to sleep in or like living in the tropics but hey, if you don't want to rise at 5am and don't relish your makeup falling off as soon as you put it on then maybe this place isn't for you. Alternatively you could go in Winter or maybe the Stamford could upgrade its airconditioning system and insulation to justify the prices it charges. On the upside, the service - particularly from the concierge and his troops - is exceptional. Room service too is very prompt and unobtrusive. I s'pose I was a little disappointed with the room service food because I was expecting fine dining standards to apply - and why not after the hype about Siggis? Very nice bathrooms with Bulgari soap and shampoos - only to be let down by the lack of water pressure in the shower. Oh yes, and don't take a first time lover here. The toilets have no doors! I mean I like intimacy but some things shouldn't be shared! On the upside, I didn't see a single child in the place. Nice!