50 I Hotel update
Ongoing development of the CBD, particularly around Darling Harbour,
has increased pressure on rooms and sparked a frenzy of new hotelsSydney
NEW
In 2015, a swarm of new boutique
hotels infiltrated Sydney, injecting
an element of quirkiness into
the slightly stagnant hotel scene.
This included the dive-bar-
turned-modern-gem The Old
Clare Hotel in the Chippendale
suburb, and the promise of
“barefoot luxury” at the glamorous
beachside 69-suite QT Bondi.
Heritage lovers welcomed the
Primus Hotel on Pitt Street,
with its celebration of 1930s Art
Deco glamour, along with Hotel
Palisade, housed in a century-old
building and boasting a rooftop
with envious views over the
harbour and Barangaroo. Two
Ovolo hotels also opened (one
in Darling Harbour, and one in
Wooloomooloo) offering their
unique modern take on hospitality.
Last year, the bigger players
took their turn. Hyatt Regency
returned to Sydney in November2016, following a major A$250
million (US$200 million)
refurbishment of the former
Four Points by Sheraton Sydney,
Darling Harbour. As part of
the expansion, a new 24-storey
tower saw the addition of 222
guestrooms, making Hyatt
Regency Sydney one of the largest
in Australia with a total room
count of 892. Other highlights
of the hotel include the open-air
rooftop bar Zephyr, plus 3,700
sqm of event space including two
ballrooms and 21 meeting rooms.
Two new airport hotels have
opened at Sydney Airport. In
July, the 136-room Mantra Hotel
opened near Terminals 2 and 3.
All rooms are Studio King variety
(with varying view options) and
come with wifi (for an additional
fee) and rain showers. The 24-hour
reception promises an “express
checkout”, while the on-site
restaurant offers buffet, à la carteand grab-and-go options. Daily
rates (including breakfast) start
from A$195 (US$155) per night –
though an opening offer of A$159
(US$126) is available including
1GB of internet access per day and
welcome drink voucher.
Officially opening its doors on
September 1, the new “refreshingly
simple” Travelodge Hotel Sydney
Airport features 209 rooms
(with king, twin or triple bed
configuration options), T’s Bistro
(all-day dining with an alfresco
courtyard), a late-night bar, luggage
storage and a shuttle service. An
opening offer is available with 25
per cent discount plus breakfast for
A$164 (US$130) per night.
Last month also saw the
opening of Skye Hotel Suites
Parramatta, an all-suite property
with 72 apartment-style units.COMING SOON
This month, the hotly anticipated