Southbank made history last week when it received top honour of 2014 Retail Property of the Year at the Property Council of Australia (Qld) Awards making it the first time a ‘precinct’ has won the coveted title.
It was also the first entrant to receive a perfect score as winner of the Excellence in Marketing Award and then took out the Excellence in Food Retailing Award.
The much-loved destination, which draws over 10 million visitors annually nudged out some of the State’s largest retail centres and dining districts to score its award-winning trifecta.
CEO of South Bank Corporation Jeff Weigh was delighted with the three accolades and was grateful to the PCA for recognising the precinct’s overall retail offer, diverse dining options and excellence in marketing.
“We are extremely proud of our leasing and marketing efforts over the past few years as we work to maintain our position at the forefront of the State’s retail, dining and leisure scene.
“The Retail Property of the Year award is one of the most prestigious honours for excellence in the retail sector, recognising outstanding overall achievement for a property or precinct. The accolade was awarded to the retail property that achieved the highest average aggregate out of the three award categories.
“Our innovative South Bank Concierge marketing campaign scored a perfect score of 100 points from the judging panel based on our ability to tap into the 61,000-plus conference delegates visiting the destination annually.
“The Excellence in Food Retailing Award cements our dominance of the Brisbane food scene and key points-of-difference including the choice of over 28 restaurants, cafes and bars that line both Little Stanley and Grey Streets,” Weigh added.
“Our re-launch campaign of Little Stanley Street in late 2013 generated immediate results and has proven to be our most successful brand marketing and retail sales campaign to date.”
Queensland executive director of the Property Council, Kathy Mac Dermott said the Queensland Retail Property Awards recognise excellence in retail properties and precincts throughout Queensland in the areas of marketing, design, food and presentation.
“In 2014, 68 finalists were recognised throughout the State, representing properties and precincts in a range of size categories.
“South Bank’s achievement marks the first time a precinct has won Retail Property of the Year…and our congratulations go to all finalists and winners on their fantastic achievements,” Mac Dermott said.
South Bank is also gearing up to welcome a further 3,500 to 4,000 people who will live and work in the vicinity following Anthony John Group’s announcement in April it will build its second Emporium Hotel; together with a new commercial precinct housing the global headquarters of Flight Centre at the southern end of Grey Street.
It will also be a key destination when Brisbane hosts the G20 Leaders Summit in November 2014.