In a move to enhance international student experiences in Brisbane, Urbanest, Australia’s newest provider of student accommodation has partnered with Brisbane Marketing’s Study Brisbane program. The partnership will assist in the marketing and awareness of the City’s new world-class student residential offering, targeting the estimated 80,000 new international students in 2010.

Brisbane Marketing Director of Export, Gordon Scott said Brisbane is reaching a critical mass as an international student destination that is driving a commercial need for quality student accommodation, which has paved the way for Urbanest to develop its first Australian property in Brisbane.

“Brisbane’s long-term reputation as a destination for international students is centred on our collective abilities to ensure memorable experiences for our students while they are here as they return to their countries and become proactive advocates for our city,” Mr Scott said.

“While the academic offering is vital, the quality of accommodation and community interaction, along with safety and cost of living are key issues to the overall international student experience.

“Brisbane Marketing’s partnership with Urbanest seeks to promote its safe, friendly and relaxed accommodation experience to the City’s 80,000 new international students, as well as driving out undesirable accommodation practices in the City,” Mr Scott said.  

Urbanest Regional Operations Manager, Mark Lewis said the partnership enables the company to educate international students about the new and unique accommodation offering in Brisbane.

“Brisbane is competing against many global destinations for international students and if we are to increase our share, the City needs to offer purpose built, high quality, safe and secure and world-class student accommodation,” Mr Lewis said.

“We expect 80 per cent of the residency to be occupied by international students and having only launched one month ago, we hope to reach this target by partnering with Brisbane Marketing”.

“This also means that almost 600 international students will experience Brisbane’s new dedicated student accommodation, located in a central, friendly and safe community at South Bank. In an international market where word-of-mouth is the most powerful sales tool, our student residents will hopefully spread a positive message about Brisbane.”  

The partnership is initially focused on the Brisbane Welcome International Student (BWIS) event, where 3,500 plus international students are expected to gather together on the 6 March 2010 in the Brisbane CBD. Study Brisbane manages the BWIS in conjunction with the Brisbane City Council. BWIS is the City’s largest dedicated international student event. 

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About Urbanest

Urbanest is a developer, owner and operator of purpose-built accommodation for students and is a new, innovative Australian business operated by executives with extensive experience in international student accommodation markets.

Urbanest’s first project was launched in Brisbane in 2008  at South Bank, offering 713 beds. A second property in central Adelaide will open in 2010 and then a third will launch in Sydney in 2011. By 2013, Urbanest aims to have 10,000 beds across four Australian capital cities – Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Urbanest built, owns and manages the Brisbane student apartments located at South Bank, offering both domestic and international students a quality accommodation experience during their stay in Australia’s new world city.

www.urbanest.com.au

YouTube - Urbanest South Bank accommodation for students

YouTube – QUT News, Southbank’s student housing project

About Study Brisbane

Study Brisbane is the official student destination brand for the city of Brisbane and forms part of Brisbane Marketing, the economic development agency for Brisbane.  

The Study Brisbane initiative plays a strategic role in Brisbane’s education market by developing and expanding the City’s profile as an international student destination in target source markets.

As the official and initial touch-point for existing and potential students, www.studybrisbane.com.au provides information about Brisbane’s education capabilities, offers details about Brisbane experiences for international students, and encourages social integration for these students who are starting life in Australia’s new world city.

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