And in Sydney a former Ovolo has completed its transition to one of Accor’s newest brands.
The 145-room Oaks Melbourne St Kilda Road Hotel opened on October 1 near Albert Park, which hosts the Australian F1 Grand Prix each year.
There are studios, one bedroom and two bedroom options available at the hotel. Every room comes with a kitchenette and a private balcony.
“The addition of Oaks Melbourne St Kilda Road Hotel to our property portfolio supports our strategic expansion of the Oaks brand in Australasia,” said Craig Hooley, chief operating officer for Minor Hotels Australia and New Zealand, which owns the Oaks brand.
“Melbourne is a vibrant city with a raft of sporting and cultural events on its calendar, and Oaks Melbourne St Kilda Road Hotel is ideal for business and leisure travellers wanting to stay in one of the city’s most iconic destinations, with convenient connection to the CBD and sporting and entertainment venues.”
Also in Melbourne, the first development in shopping area Bourke Street Mall in 50 years has topped out.
Once complete, the mixed-use Melbourne Walk will be home to IHG Hotels & Resorts’ first dual branded property nationally, a combined Holiday Inn and Hotel Indigo, offering accommodation at two different levels of the market.
The Holiday Inn Bourke St Mall will have 273 rooms, while the Hotel Indigo Little Collins will have 179 rooms.
“IHG Hotels & Resorts is proud to be partnering with Steadfast Capital on the Melbourne Walk redevelopment and greatly appreciates the significant investment Steadfast has made in the revitalisation of Melbourne and the accommodation sector more broadly,” said IHG’s managing director for Australasia and the Pacific, Matt Tripolone.
“I’m looking forward to the doors opening in 2025 and providing guests of all types with the experience that appeals to them – whether its Hotel Indigo Little Collins’ neighbourhood story or Holiday Inn Melbourne Bourke Street Mall’s iconic brand.”
Meanwhile, the Hotel Woolstore 1888 Sydney – formerly an Ovolo property – has completed a four-month transformation to join Accor’s new Handwritten Collection.
The 90-room hotel has had its amenities and guest experiences revamped and will shortly reveal a new dining concept which fuses Australian heritage with Spanish culture.
“Our goal was to create a hotel that not only reflects the vibrant history of the building but also provides guests with an unforgettable experience,” said the hotel’s new general manager, Roya l’Anson.
“We believe that the Handwritten Collection brand perfectly complements the hotel’s unique character.
“We are confident that our enhancements of Hotel Woolstore 1888 Sydney will position the hotel as a leading destination for discerning travellers.
“We invite guests to come and experience where history and bespoke service intertwine for an unforgettable stay.”
