Retail Property Award Goes To Leisure Precinct In History First

Brisbane’s largest leisure and lifestyle precinct, South Bank, made history after taking out the top prize of the 2014 Retail Property of the Year awards last week, making it the first time a precinct has won the 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.

South Bank draws over 10 million visitors a year and beat some of the state’s largest retail and dining districts to gain its award-winning trifect.

CEO of South Bank Corporation Jeff Weigh was delighted with the three accolades and was grateful to the Property Council of Australia for recognising the precinct’s overall retail offer, diverse dining options and excellence in marketing.

“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,” Mr Weigh said.

“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.

“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 recognised 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," she said

“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.
Related Article: Emporium Creator To Launch $590m Southpoint Development

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.