Emporium Hotel South Bank’s new general manager, John Mcilwain
Our relationship with Emporium Hotel South Bank is based on a shared passion for the arts, in particular opera, and a deep belief that Brisbane is a great city with a thriving arts and culture program to offer locals and tourists.
We welcome John McIlwain to his new role as General Manager at Emporium Hotel South Bank and find out below how he is settling into the precinct.
John, welcome to the Southbank precinct, it is great to have you here, tell us a little bit about the industry experience you bring to your role?
I have recently moved back to my Queensland homeland with more than 20 years in hotel leadership positions and 30 years overall in the industry.
Most recently, I served as General Manager of Operations at Event Hospitality, looking after the Rydges, QT and Atura brands in Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
Opera Queensland deeply values our partnership with Emporium Hotel South Bank and looking forward to announcing some new collaborative projects. When working with partners what values does Emporium Hotel South Bank prioritise?
We are delighted to be surrounded by arts, culture and entertainment at South Bank. In our partnerships, we are excited by collaborations that offer luxurious and exceptional experiences to all guests to the precinct.
John McIlwain, General Manager, Emporium Hotel South Bank
For Opera Queensland audiences wishing to have a ‘staycation’ at Emporium in the upcoming weeks, what would be the top three indulgences or activities that you would recommend?
At Emporium, we have no doubt that a staycation with us will allow you time to relax, unwind and the abundance of premium food and beverage options will leave you spoilt for choice. To further enhance your experience, Emporium Hotel South Bank offers an exclusive collection of offers that can add an additional measure of luxury to your visit, including:
- The Romance Package is the perfect treat to surprise someone special, with champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries, a rose petal turn down service and a midday checkout.
- The Helicopter Experience, in partnership with Elite helicopters, is the ultimate luxury, taking your stay to new heights. Find yourself whisked away in the Emporium Hotel Maserati to your own private helicopter
- While with Stay and Dine you can add a taste of Queensland with our meal package in our Signature Restaurant to enhance your accommodation experience.
Covid-19 has provided Opera Queensland with an opportunity to reimagine how we give access to the Arts. What is it that you miss most about live performance, knowing that we will back with main stage performances in 2021.
I miss the social aspect of a live performance and shared excitement it garners. I look forward to attending Opera Queensland’s next live performance to experience the thrilling power of the opera.
Find out more about Emporium Hotel South Bank here.
For more information about partnering with Opera Queensland, please contact Erin Robinson at erobinson@oq.com.au or on 07 3735 3057 or contact our Development Team at development@oq.com.au or phone 07 3735 3030.