HOTEL NEWS
THE LATEST FROM CHEFS AND RESTAURANTS AROUND AUSTRALIANews
Clockwise from left: Little National Hotel
in Sydney’s CBD; the handmade brickwork
exterior of The Hotel Britomart in Auckland;
JW Marriott’s first property is set to open in
the Gold Coast in December; the timber-lined
interiors of The Hotel Britomart suites.AUSTRALIA
James Viles is swapping Bowral for the Greater Blue
Mountains, as he takes on a new role as executive
chef of the high-end, conservation-based Emirates
One&Only Wolgan Valley. Making a name for himself
as one of the Southern Highlands’ favourite chefs and
regional restaurateurs, Viles is renowned for bringing
a touch of modernity to locally sourced, seasonal
produce. Back in Sydney, Little National Hotel will
open in the CBD. The minimalist hotel sits at a five-star
standard, but aims itself at guests who spend more
time out of their room than in it. This translates to
compact-yet-stylish rooms, alongside a sprawling
library and rooftop garden bar. Australia will also
welcome its first JW Marriott property, when it does
a $35 million rebrand of the long-standing Surfers
Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, which is set for
a December reopening.NEW ZEALAND
While borders remain closed, it’s worth keeping an eye
on some of the luxe new openings across the ditch,
so you’re ready to book as soon as normal service
resumes. The Hotel Britomart will open in Auckland in
October, becoming New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star
hotel (certified by the NZ Green Building Council),
situated in the historic Britomart precinct, a waterfront
neighbourhood in the heart of the city. Ponsonby,
on Auckland’s city-fringe, will welcome Hotel Fitzroy
curated by Fable, a boutique, two-storey villa, featuring
10 guest rooms. The Fable brand is also set to take
over a Victorian-era four-storey hotel in Dunedin.GOURMET TRAVELLER 25PHOTOGRAPHY SAM HARTNETT (HOTEL BRITOMART INTERIORS), ROMELLO PEREIRA (LITTLE NATIONAL HOTEL) & PATRICK REYNOLDS (HOTEL BRITOMART).