Destined to be the most luxurious Art Series property yet, the $100 million hotel will be carved into the cliff under the Story Bridge and will feature 166 guest rooms, with custom contemporary furnishings and original artworks and giclee prints.

Inspired by and dedicated to Australia’s most contemporary artists, the six-storey hotel will also offer four distinct food and beverage outlets as well as an impressive rooftop pool boasting spectacular views of the Brisbane River and CBD, bar, gym and three conference rooms, fully equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology.

The new general manager of the hotel, Shaun Fields, has more than 20 years’ experience in the hotel industry and has looked after a number of high-profile guests including Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Buble’ and Pink, but his most memorable is Queen Elizabeth II.

“I worked with her representatives from Buckingham Palace. It took 12 months to meticulously plan and I had the pleasure of being her personal escort,” Fields said. “It ended with a dinner for all the Commonwealth heads of government and I received a personal gift from the Queen at the end of it which I still wear to this day – a pair of cufflinks.”

See also: Howard Smith Wharves Art Series Hotel opening March 2019

Growing up in Durban, Fields started his career in a hotel kitchen – a client of his accountant mother – but was quickly tapped by the general manager to join its highly competitive intern program. From there the teenager worked his way through housekeeping, reservations and the front office.

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First look inside The Fantauzzo Art Series Hotel

After seven years he left South Africa and travelled the world applying his skills on the QE2 and Seabourn cruise lines, visiting places like the Amazon, Machu Pichu, Punta del Este, Barbados and New York, to name a few.

Following a brief stint at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where he worked as the restaurant manager, Fields spent five years with Starwood Hotels in London before coming to Australia in 2010, starting at the Sheraton Perth (now the Pan Pacific Perth).

See also: Best Western Hotel for sale, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane

Relocating to Melbourne to join Accor as a general manager in mid 2016, Fields is now relishing the chance to bring something truly unique to Brisbane.

“I learnt a lot during my tenure in Perth about providing quality service and attention to detail,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to sharing this with our guests at The Fantauzzo.”

Passionate about the Art Series brand, Field’s top priority is to deliver a five-star experience but in a relaxed way to create a welcoming space where everyone feels like they belong.

See also: Howard Smith Wharves "game changing for Brisbane"

With local room supply continuing to grow, Fields understands the need to adapt, be relevant and stand out from the crowd is more important now than ever, but will do this by meticulously planning The Fantauzzo’s culture.

“We will be at the cutting edge of what is happening in the industry right now when it comes to in-room technology, but we need to keep the core values of what makes a good hotel experience at the forefront,” he added.

“Guests are becoming savvier, with more and more searching for an experience they just cannot get at home. We will deliver on this by creating a guest experience you simply cannot get anywhere else, in a location that is fast becoming an icon of the Brisbane landscape.”

Click here to view The Fantauzzo hotel website.

See other articles relating to Howard Smith Wharves:

Howard Smith Wharves Art Series Hotel opening March 2019

Howard Smith Wharves "game changing for Brisbane"

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