A luxury hotel boom for Melbourne
Melbourne is entering a new phase in the hotel industry.
The city is about to get a massive influx of luxury hotels.
So far, 9500 rooms put up by 45 developers have approved for building.
One big development is the Hotel Indigo at the Docklands.
The company behind that is the InterContinental Hotel Group, which in May signed on with Salta Properties to build it.
The InterContinental Hotel Group owns 5000 rooms across the world.
The rooms are there under its brands including Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and InterContinental, operating the hotel at the Rialto on Collins St.
The talk around the traps is that InterContinental is talking to some developers for the introduction of its wellness-themed Even hotels.
The group has just opened its first Even hotel outside the US in Auckland and IHG Asia chief Jan Smits says is about to make an announcement shortly about the location of the group’s first Australian wellness hotel.
“We are currently looking at locations in Melbourne and Sydney, and hope to be able to announce something soon,” Mr Smits told Commercial Property.
The Even hotels brand is pitched at the business traveller, rather than the tourist. It’s a brand looking to attract guests focused on exercise and healthy, organic food. The hotels have suites with fitness equipment and access to dozens of in-room workout videos.
Urban Melbourne, which tracks planning applications for commercial projects, says that Melbourne after years of being squeezed by accommodation shortages is about to more hotel suites. It estimates they will increase by 30 per cent.
Urban Melbourne director Alastair Taylor says Melbourne is becoming the place for new hotels and a glut any time soon is not likely.
“Melbourne as a tourist destination is huge. There are 12 Chinese cities alone that have direct flights into Tullamarine Airport three times a week,” Mr Taylor told Commercial Property. “With more accommodation choice, this will grow.”
by Leon Gettler, July 26th 2017
