The Sofitel, perched above Central Station and offering commanding views of the city, has been a key part of the city’s luxury accommodation and conference scene for nearly 40 years.

The 30-storey landmark, designed in the brutalist architectural style by Conrad Garget Architects in 1984, began life as the Sheraton before it was sold to Brookfield Holdings in 2012.

With a massive ballroom and 416 rooms, the hotel has some of Brisbane’s largest conference facilities and has hosted many a political party gathering and election launch over the years.

For many years in the 1980s and 1990s, it, the riverside Stamford Plaza (formerly the Heritage) and the Hilton Hotel on Elizabeth St were the only five-star offerings in a city suffering then from a chronic undersupply of luxury accommodation.

It has been an away-from-home favourite for countless politicians and celebrities over the years.

CBRE Hotels said the hotel presented “several revenue enhancing opportunities to relocate and re-purpose less productive or under-utilised space”.

It also stated there was the availability of “vacant possession” if any buyer wanted, brining into question if the Sofitel brand may disappear as part of the sale.