May 28, 2021 | By Graeme Kemlo
Set to open next month, Marriott Melbourne at Docklands is the first five-star hotel in the precinct, well designed for business events, but also regarded as an urban resort courtesy of its 28 metre heated rooftop infinity pool.
micenet took a quick tour of the 15-floor twin-tower property pre-opening to find staff being trained and undertaking simulation exercises to ready themselves for an expected flight from central CBD hotels to check out this modern new hotel.
What was a former cargo wharf area has been evolving into a new 35,000-resident Melbourne suburb just one free city tram ride to the south.
General Manager, Girish Talreja believes it will be a popular “bleisure” hotel, attracting the leisure market initially due to its proximity to the football stadium, Star Observation Wheel, Costco and the shopping, restaurants and bars in this area. But Marriott also offers a generous business events floor and four hospitality venues that will attract the corporate market looking for something different.
The dedicated meetings and events floor on Level 3 is a brightly lit area with floor to ceiling windows and balconies ideal for meeting breaks. There’s 345m2 in meetings space across five rooms, from small boardrooms to a ballroom for 200 that divides in three with acoustic operable walls.
Accommodation is provided in 189 rooms starting at 32m2 with views of the city skyline, Bolte Bridge, Yarra River & Port Phillip Bay. Apart from the pool, which can be an event space for 50, fitness-focused guests have the latest in high-tech gym equipment that talks to your smartphone.
For residential conferences Talreja says he would be prepared to allocate up to 60 percent of his room stock.