Next Hotel Brisbane won the Outstanding Community Service & Achievement Award at the annual Queensland Hotel Association Awards for Excellence in the 0-99 employees category.

Held on Thursday 5th October in Brisbane, the 2017 awards provided a forum for the public recognition of excellence in individual and group achievement by Queensland hotels.

Next Hotel Brisbane focuses on four key areas of the business as part of their community service contribution - sponsorship, donation, engagement with education bodies and supporting local business – and their outstanding achievements in the previous financial year earned them the state award.

In addition to sponsoring nearly $40,000 worth of accommodation and services for events such as St Vinnies CEO Sleepout, Brisbane Hair and Beauty Expo, Brisbane Fashion Weekend, Kiss Goodbye to MS and the Lord Mayor Christmas Carols, the Next Hotel Brisbane team also made $30,000 worth of community and charitable donations via accommodation vouchers to charities such as Shave for a Cure, Mater Hospital, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and more.

Next Hotel Brisbane Regional General Manager – QLD, NSW and VIC Alex Billing said a key factor to operating a successful and sustainable hospitality business was its ability to engage with its local community and undertake its duties as a leader within that community.

“At Next Hotel Brisbane we do not take this responsibility lightly and we believe it's vital to play a proactive part in growing our local communities,” he said.

“Next Hotel Brisbane also places high importance on supporting educational bodies to not only promote the hotel industry but also help to train the future hospitality leaders of tomorrow.

“We support this through industry advice and consultation, training opportunities, work experience, site visits, internships and more for organisations including TAFE Southbank, International College of Hotel Management – Adelaide, University of the Sunshine Coast, Martin Higher Education, Queensland College of Wine Tourism,

local schools and high schools.”

In order to support and utilize local suppliers to invest in the local community wherever possible, Next Hotel Brisbane contributed over $1 million in the 2016/2017 financial year to local businesses.

“Whether it is sponsoring large scale events, providing prizes for local schools, fundraising for community initiatives, supporting educational bodies and their students, or by simply purchasing from local suppliers, Next Hotel Brisbane is proud of its generous contribution and support to the local Brisbane community,” said Mr Billing.

– END –

For interview requests, please contact:

   Caitlin O'Loan

   COCOM PR

   M: 0407 028 177

   T: 07 3892 7736

   E: Caitlin@cocom.com.au

About NEXT Hotels and Next Hotel Brisbane:

Next Hotels is an upper upscale hotel brand designed specifically to address the needs of the modern business traveller. Space, technology and service are re-engineered so that the time-crunched and modern business-focused traveller optimises time, exemplifying the brand's promise: “Designed to Make your Time Count.” Next Hotels empower the guest with choice, flexibility and control. The flagship brand of Singapore-based Next Story Group, the world's first Next Hotel opened in September 2014 in Brisbane, Australia, with 304 rooms. Located in Queen Street Mall, Next Hotel Brisbane also comprises an outdoor pool deck overlooking the Mall as well as Brisbane's premier retail shopping district, space that hosts Australia's first Forever 21, the renowned US-based fast fashion giant.

About Next Story Group

Next Story Group designs, manages, and markets hotels and urban spaces. Seeing each real estate asset as a living ecosystem, the group precisely optimizes each space's design and performance based on customer demand. With experienced leaders in design, marketing, operations, and emerging technology, Next Story Group takes a holistic approach to each space it manages, future proofing its owners' investments.

The group's brands include Next Hotels, Kafnu, Brand Karma, and Virsa. For more information visit www.nextstory.com.