thought id make a thread on this.its becoming an issue.
sydney hasnt had a luxry highrise hotel built since 1992 (ANA Hotel).
the latest hotel is new 15storey as part of star City casino in Pyrmont.
Gowings and adjacent sate theatre have combined to create a 12storey hotel on king street currently under reno for next year.
latest news today is a company has bought a 12storey cnr Pitt/bridge st and will convert to hotel.
Barangaroo have plans for Australias tallest hotel, being the 40storey/170m peir hotel.
Ha HarryT from meriton killed off hotels due to massive service aprtments prescence in CBD?

todays fin rev-
Sydney room deficit ignites hotel hotspot
Cititel Hotels, a unit of Malysia-listed IGB Corporation, has bought 12storey Hunter Street office tower for $36 million.

The only 12 storey building it could be on Pitt and Bridge is owned by Hawaiian and was renovated a couple of years ago. Has a Westpac branch and I believe offices still in the building, it is an ugly hexagonal building, so it wouldn't be a shame if they dramatically remodelled it.

It's 34 Hunter, north western corner of Pitt. Sold by Charter Hall.

sorry hunter not bridge. doh!

It is good that even with Meriton flooding the market with serviced apartments, that there is demand for hotel rooms in central Sydney.

34 Hunter is the same building that has a Dymocks at street level for those not 100 % sure. Not a nice building to look at.

Yep, it's a fairly pedestrian, lumpish '60s job. Never was a pretty one. Won't be a loss if it's radically reworked. Right opposite the Radisson (? ), isn't it?

Right opposite the Radisson (? ), isn't it?

Yes.

There's a 235m height limit there, but alas, the site is so small FSR restrictions would stop it from going anywhere near that height.

I saw the other day that the menswear suit store was closing down which is towards the back of the building, hopefully in preparation for the hotel.

Here is a list of their hotels. One would assume that Sydney would be a St Giles chain like their other international hotels http://www.cititelmidvalley.com/chmindex.html

thought id make a thread on this.its becoming an issue.
[...]
Ha HarryT from meriton killed off hotels due to massive service aprtments prescence in CBD?

I wonder if this is more of a national problem -- there are room shortages in Brisbane and Perth as well, from what I know. Maybe the high $A is scaring away developers, afraid foreign visitors will drop just as their hotels are finished?

the hotel shortage has been in sydney since 2000. i dont think visitors are the issue. i think serviced units have taken hotels place. sydney needs a big hotel, major one.
this hopefulyl will be barangaroo.gee i reckon even 115bathurst would make a perfect hotel.great location and has views!

always wondered why Sydney didn't have more hotels... if you compare that to say European cities with equal or even lesser population (but presumably similar number of visitors and tourists over the year), it's bizarr why that is.

Does anybody know how many hotel rooms and serviced appartments there are in Sydney?

Just as an example: Berlin has about 4m people and about 110,000 rooms (incl B&Bs, hostels, and 1-5 star hotels), and there are another 20,000+ in the pipeline! ... and that's even with a much lower occupancy rate, and lower average room prices (so you'd think Berlin is even less attractive than Sydney for investors)

Serviced apartments killed off new hotels? Really?

I'd much prefer to stay in a hotel than serviced apartments.

Cul when was Sheraton on the Park completed? Granted it's not a skyscraper hotel but I would've thought that a fair number of hotel rooms were added aside from ANA pre-Olympics?

always wondered why Sydney didn't have more hotels... if you compare that to say European cities with equal or even lesser population (but presumably similar number of visitors and tourists over the year), it's bizarr why that is.

Does anybody know how many hotel rooms and serviced appartments there are in Sydney?

Just as an example: Berlin has about 4m people and about 110,000 rooms (incl B&Bs, hostels, and 1-5 star hotels), and there are another 20,000+ in the pipeline! ... and that's even with a much lower occupancy rate, and lower average room prices (so you'd think Berlin is even less attractive than Sydney for investors)

A couple hundred million potential tourists within 2 hours flight of Berlin cf 18m within the same distance from Sydney.

Yep this is true, the other night I was looking for a hotel room for a root and couldn't find any. Others had booked them for a root too!

A couple hundred million potential tourists within 2 hours flight of Berlin cf 18m within the same distance from Sydney.

granted! .... however, potential and reality differ! Berlin "only" had 9 million visitors last year (majority of them Germans) who stayed an average of 2.2 nights (if the latest stats are correct). Given Sydney's status as the gateway to Oz, with a huge number of International arrivals and, presumably, a much longer average stay (in days), you'd assume that they are not too far off eachother.

But maybe someone can shed some light on the room numbers for Sydney! ... or does Sydney / NSW not have an authority / office that keeps track of those stats? ;)

granted! .... however, potential and reality differ! Berlin "only" had 9 million visitors last year (majority of them Germans) who stayed an average of 2.2 nights (if the latest stats are correct). Given Sydney's status as the gateway to Oz, with a huge number of International arrivals and, presumably, a much longer average stay (in days), you'd assume that they are not too far off eachother.


Sydney gets 10 million tourists a year, 7 million of them Australians.
It's a small world in 2011, we're only 20 hours from Europe. Used to take more than 20 hours by train to get across Europe!

Sheraton Park Hotel 20fl
1980
Crone Associates.

Originally called the Park Grande Hotel.

http://www.emporis.com/application/?lng=3&nav=building&id=167079

the hotel shortage has been in sydney since 2000. i dont think visitors are the issue. i think serviced units have taken hotels place. sydney needs a big hotel, major one.
this hopefulyl will be barangaroo.gee i reckon even 115bathurst would make a perfect hotel.great location and has views!

How does that explain the closures of hotels at Kings Cross and their conversion to unit towers? Thats what has bought the problem on over the past few years.

Sheraton Park Hotel 20fl
1980
Crone Associates.

Originally called the Park Grande Hotel.

http://www.emporis.com/application/?lng=3&nav=building&id=167079

If I am right, it opened around 1992?

A couple hundred million potential tourists within 2 hours flight of Berlin cf 18m within the same distance from Sydney.

Totally true.

Its not good to looks at a city in isolation. It is important to look at the surrounds, and in that sense, Australian cities falls far behind most of the world for a immediate regional catchment area to draw from.

Totally true.

Its not good to looks at a city in isolation. It is important to look at the surrounds, and in that sense, Australian cities falls far behind most of the world for a immediate regional catchment area to draw from.

does sydney's stats take into account back packing lodges because I would swear we had one of the highest per capita.

bump

not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere

$68 Million Four-Star Hotel at Sydney Airport
19 November 2011Category:Media Releases

http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n554/beastben/Screenshot2011-11-29at63445PM.png

http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n554/beastben/Screenshot2011-11-29at63435PM.png

http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n554/beastben/Screenshot2011-11-29at63422PM.png

http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n554/beastben/Screenshot2011-11-29at63402PM.png

Sydney Airport passengers will soon benefit from greater choice and greater convenience with a new $68 million, four-star hotel to be built at the airport's revamped International Terminal by the Denwol Group and operated by Rydges Hotels.

Rydges to develop $68 million, four-star hotel outside International terminal
317 rooms, bar, restaurant and gym
Expected completion date 2012

Construction of the hotel will commence shortly outside the International Terminal in Sydney Airport and is expected to substantially complete by late 2012.

The new four-star hotel will include 317 rooms, a bar, restaurant and gym to meet growing demand from passengers for convenient and immediate access to the International Terminal at Sydney Airport.

rest of article here: http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/corporate/media-centre/media-releases/media-release-detail.aspx?item=%7B8F27A3DC-E6CE-4FCF-ADFB-7179EB5E4C82%7D&lst=%7BC313C142-0E4E-4269-A2FB-BDEB95B3BC9E%7D

looks good. not sure if its mentioned in mascot thread?>
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=199042&page=7

Was mentioned in the Sydney Airport thread - however good idea to post it in this one too

I had a vague idea I'd posted something on it somewhere, however, the pics here are much better.
Still not excited by the design even with the V stilts (shades of Oz Square Pitt St building).

The hotel is already under construction. :)

In the first two pictures the stilts are V but in the last one they are just straight...

Keeping their options open?

The new commercial building, attached to the parking lot facing the terminal, has V shaped stilts, I would assume, being right next door the hotel will have a similar theme and have V stilts.

My favourite hotel in Sydney is the YHA in the Rocks. It has brilliant views of the Opera House and stuff!

For a hostel, it's superior in terms of what they offer and YHA have a good reputation for providing good rooms. They even have hotel style rooms if you dont want to share.

For a hostel, it's superior in terms of what they offer and YHA have a good reputation for providing good rooms. They even have hotel style rooms if you dont want to share.

Privates? Most hostels have those :)

Seems hotels are coming back into favour!

Aside from the recent opening of The Darling at The Star (5 star, 171 rooms), the redevelopment of the Gowings Building into the QT Hotel (4.5 star, 196 rooms), the proposed Barangaroo hotel (~250 rooms) and at least 1 new hotel at the Convention Centre, the latest proposal is to convert the commercial and retail building at 34-36 Hunter Street into a 3 star, 282 room hotel. It is located on the corner of Pitt and Hunter Streets, opposite the Radisson Plaza Hotel.

http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Datasource/DANotifications/1039891_034.pdf

The hotel is not going to win any architectural awards, but it will be good to see a more affordable accommodation option come online.

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/8623/hunterstreethotel2.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/607/hunterstreethotel2.jpg/)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/671/hunterstreethotel.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/4/hunterstreethotel.jpg/)

http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Datasource/DANotifications/1039891_037.pdf

It's the building originally called the Guardian Assurance Building, never a classic, rather London c.1960s in design. Having a funny new hat and a bit of an extension down one sidewill at least give it a bit of oddity value.
Pity they didn't start from scratch tho'.

Architects: Innovarchi

Data: Guardian Assurance Building 13 storeys 46m (150ft) Cost $2m (sic!) Stafford Moor & Farrington Architects Completed 1963

Does anyone have a list of the current tallest hotels in Australia, in order?

Just wondering where a potential Barangaroo hotel will sit on that list.

^^
The Barangaroo hotel in its current form (170m) would be the tallest single use hotel in Australia.

Like the idea - but the add on doesnt have any relationship to the existing building.

I don't mind it's hat, but I was hoping more would be done with the existing building as it is not a looker.
I can't remember the hotel group now but I think they are a Malaysian group and it will be their first Australian hotel

Given the existing building is such a stolid & conservative block, I think giving it a funny hat is the right decision to give it a bit of character for a hotel. For whatever reason the original is being retained and it may partly be because it is clad in a lot of marble which is its only distinction.

I don't mind it's hat, but I was hoping more would be done with the existing building as it is not a looker.
I can't remember the hotel group now but I think they are a Malaysian group and it will be their first Australian hotel

This it? Tune Hotel.

Rooms from $1: Tune Hotels coming to Australia
June 13, 2011

Malaysian budget hotel chain Tune Hotels is set to enter the Australian market, promising to introduce one dollar a night offers.

Tune has already acquired a property in Melbourne and also plans to open hotels in Sydney and Perth.

Tune Hotels group chief executive officer Mark Lankester hopes to have the chain's flagship Melbourne hotel open before Christmas 2012.

He said the company had been in talks about sites in Sydney and Perth, as well as the Gold Coast, while he was also looking at Darwin and possibly Brisbane.

"Hopefully if we are welcomed with open arms by the Australian public, I'd be more than happy to do far more, and actually get my brothers and sisters in AirAsia to do more flights going in as well," Mr Lankester said.

Part of the Tune Group set up by Tony Fernandes, the head of South-East Asia's largest budget airline AirAsia, Tune Hotels follows the same model by offering a no-frills product.

It has 12 hotels - nine in Malaysia, two in Bali and one in London - with a further 54 under construction across South-East Asia.

"We've got another 14 under construction in London," Mr Lankester said.

"It's been so successful that we just want to continue there."

Tune Hotels had a one penny a night special before the opening of its first London hotel in Westminster and Mr Lankester said an offer like one dollar a night was on the cards for the Melbourne hotel.

"You bet, we'll do exactly the same thing," he said.

He said the 230-room hotel on Swanston Street would likely have an average rate of $60 to $70 a night.

Like budget airlines, the cheapest rates come from special offers and from booking online and in advance.

And the catch is you have to pay for `extra' services like air conditioning, a TV, daily room cleaning and even towels.

The rooms are small and basic, but the chain's pitch centres on having "five star beds and one star prices" and power showers.

Its first hotel, in downtown Kuala Lumpur, is set to be revamped in stages with another 101 rooms to be added on one side to take its occupancy to 275 rooms.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/rooms-from-1-tune-hotels-coming-to-australia-20110602-1fik2.html#ixzz1jIsYdszw

Yup that's them.

LOL at having to pay for Air Con

I have stayed in a Tune Hotel in KL before and they are awesome value if you book ahead - much better than those crappy Hotel Formule 1 things that we have here. This coincides with Air Asia starting their KL - Sydney flights.

It's an interesting but good choice of location by them - the majority of the more affordable hotels are at the other end of the CBD. It's a real boon for Tune that they were able to secure a location a couple of blocks from the Quay and Pitt Street Mall

Its a good concept where you can have what you need. I have stayed in hotels where there are facilities that I wouldnt even use.

Like budget airlines the bills can add up if you do decide to take everything on offer. It will be great to see some alternative affordable accommodation opening up around this country.

I took a look at their website, and for 40 GBP / $60 AUD during winter you can get a windowless room with them located just 500m north of Liverpool Street Station, (central) London. That is a very decent price!

You still have to shop around at the end of the day.

Seems hotels are coming back into favour!

Aside from the recent opening of The Darling at The Star (5 star, 171 rooms), the redevelopment of the Gowings Building into the QT Hotel (4.5 star, 196 rooms), the proposed Barangaroo hotel (~250 rooms) and at least 1 new hotel at the Convention Centre, the latest proposal is to convert the commercial and retail building at 34-36 Hunter Street into a 3 star, 282 room hotel. It is located on the corner of Pitt and Hunter Streets, opposite the Radisson Plaza Hotel.

http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Datasource/DANotifications/1039891_034.pdf

The hotel is not going to win any architectural awards, but it will be good to see a more affordable accommodation option come online.

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/8623/hunterstreethotel2.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/607/hunterstreethotel2.jpg/)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/671/hunterstreethotel.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/4/hunterstreethotel.jpg/)

http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Datasource/DANotifications/1039891_037.pdf

This is not going to be a Tune Hotel, but rather another Malaysian hotel chain called 'Cititel'

http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/doh.jpg

Did anyone else see this article about the NSW government potentially leasing out heritage government buildings to hotel operators?
http://m.news.com.au/NSWACT/pg/0/fi985540.htm

^^
Yup, I think it is an interesting idea that should be explored further. The Lands Department building would be a great location for a boutique hotel, however it could also be used as a culture venue, and this would enhance the eastern edge of Hyde Park/Macquarie Street as a cultural hub, part of the greater Cultural Ribbon.

^^
Yup, I think it is an interesting idea that should be explored further. The Lands Department building would be a great location for a boutique hotel, however it could also be used as a culture venue, and this would enhance the eastern edge of Hyde Park/Macquarie Street as a cultural hub, part of the greater Cultural Ribbon.

Is this the old chief secretary's office?

^^

The Lands Department building is the Victorian Gothic building opposite StMarys and next to Hyde Park Barracks.
It's perfect for a hotel as it has great aspects in a number of directions (Domain and Hyde Park).
Plus, it has an unremarkable addition between the Barracks and the Domain which could be replaced with a modern addition to provide conveniences necessary for a 5 star hotel.

I think you'll find the Lands Department building is on Bridge Street, even though there is no longer a Lands Department and the Bridge St building is occupied mostly by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure. The external toilets accessed via cast mesh walkways are one of its more "interesting" features.

You could probably call the Queens Square building the Land Titles Office building, although the Gothic building and the larger 1960s extension are occupied by a range of divisions of the former Land and Property Management Authority.

The Chief Secretary's building is worth a visit. With its conversion into the Industrial Relations Commission (although the Governor's office is in there as well), there are some interesting architectural details on public diplay.

Depending on how well the article was researched (now there's a big question), the building the Telegraph identifies as Dept of Lands is the one next to the Barracks, and they refer to the one on Bridge St as Dept of Planning.

Considering the article is based on quite a deal of speculation, I would imagine they are not really sure which ones are high on the list.

All would make great opportunities for hotels though....

The Dept of Planning building has always had hotel operators sniffing around, but they never offer enough money.

Dept of Planning needs enough money to lease elsewhere or have enough funds to build a new office, so they are in no rush to move.

The Education Building would have been simpler than Lands (Bridge St) and was vacant during the Greiner Govt's moves to have a casino in there. The refurb in the mid 90's was relatively low cost but worked quite well, as the spaces were decent enough in the first place, befitting a teens and then mid-20's building. Lands is a different story, with far more heritage features and strange elements.

Land Titles is a similar age to the Bridge St side of education and has also had significant internal renovation in the 1990/00s to modernise the space

http://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/baillies-to-open-luxury-boutique-hotel-in-the-rocks-with-great-ocean-road-next-on-the-agenda/2012041254237

Baillies to open luxury boutique hotel in The Rocks, with Great Ocean Road next on the agenda

By Larry Schlesinger
Thursday, 12 April 2012

Husband and wife luxury lodge operators James and Hayley Baillie will open their first inner-city boutique hotel in Sydney’s The Rocks next year and expect up to 90% of guests will be wealthy international travellers.

The Baillies have acquired 35-year leases on two adjacent historic buildings on George Street.

The two buildings are five-level Merchants House at 43-45 George Street, dating back to 1848, and 47 George Street, a sandstone warehouse dating back to 1843 and previously a Westpac Bank branch.

They are currently being developed by Tim Greer of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer architects.

James Baillie tells Property Observer the Great Ocean Road is next on the couple’s agenda, while they also have ambitions of opening a second larger luxury hotel in Sydney.

“The Great Ocean Road is very much on the cards. We are looking at various locations and have received great support from the Victoria government on this,” he says.

“The end game would be to open a second bigger hotel in Sydney. One day we’d like to open a larger luxury hotel in the 50- to 80-room range," he says.

The Rocks lodge will be called Baillies Sydney and will feature 10 suites aimed at wealthy overseas travel market with rates starting from $1,200 per night up to $3,000 per night.

James Baillie says he chose The Rocks because it is a “quintessentially Sydney location” and “perfectly located close to all of Sydney key iconic attractions”

He says it will be “like nothing Sydney has seen before” with guests receiving “first-name service”.

“Luxury lodges have a highly inclusive element to them with all meals and beverages and in the case of wilderness lodges they would eat most of their meals at the lodge.

“However in the case of Baillies Sydney, we want to give them the opportunity to experience fine Sydney dining if they wish.

“We will include an open bar for guests and weary travellers can choose to have their meals in the hotel, but we don’t want to compete with Sydney restaurants,” he says.

Guests staying at Baillies Sydney will have the option of being driven to nearby restaurants and taken on behind-the-scenes tours of the Sydney Opera House.

The Baillies will next turn their attention to the Great Ocean Road with James Baillie telling The Australian he sees “amazing potential for a luxury lodge” on the famous Victorian coastal road.

Baillie Lodges was founded in 2003 and currently operates three luxury lodges in wilderness locations, these being Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island, the Baillies’ first venture, Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island and Remarkable Lodge in Tasmania.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/671/hunterstreethotel.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/4/hunterstreethotel.jpg/)

This is recommended for approval at the next council meeting: http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/MeetingsAndCommittees/2012/Committiees/070512/planning.aspx

Good! More hotel rooms for the CBD.

A recent report stated that Sydney needs a minimum of 500 hotel rooms per year through to 2020 - that's 4,500 new hotel rooms in the next 9 years, as a minimum.

Nothing Major. DA in for new signage to rebrand the Marriott Hotel on College Street to Pullmans Hotel.

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/DAsOnExhibition/details.asp?tpk=1055886

There is an article in property section of todays AFR.
But i dont have online subscription to read full article...

Demand for hotel rooms set to soar

Low supply levels and strong demand from business travellers are set to drive Australian hotel occupancy rates to their highest on record, pushing up room rates across the country.

It has nothing new relating to Sydney that we dont already know.

Nothing that Banga and packers new hotel atop a casino won't fix

Packers hotel is only a vision at the moment. Its up to Packer, the NSW Government & Lend Lease to sort it out.

But these hotels are not enough. We need more hotels.

AFR reports the hotel (ex Marriott) will also receive a multi-million dollar refurbishment and is part of a greater push to introduce the Pullman brand in Australia.

Wish they'd do something about the exterior.

Yeah that whole block is a hideous part of the street.

Not specifically related to a lack of hotel rooms, but hotel news...

Langham Hospitality Group Secures Landmark Property In Sydney
(drinks media wire) - Langham Hospitality Group has secured its first flag in Sydney with the acquisition of The Observatory Hotel, Sydney which is scheduled to become part of the Langham group on 8 August 2012.

Located near Sydney's historical Rocks district and the Central Business District, the hotel is the ideal luxury base from which to conduct business and to explore the city. The hotel is nestled near the vibrant harbour and the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, close to the bustling heart of the city with its finest selection of shops, museums, galleries and restaurants.

"Strategically, this purchase signals the group's plans for long-term expansion in the Pacific region. "said Brett Butcher, Chief Executive Officer of Langham Hospitality Group.

"The Observatory Hotel's Georgian architecture reminiscent of a grand 19th century Australian home fits perfectly with the timeless Langham brand - a legendary heritage that stretches back to 1865, offering classic elegance and luxurious service. We are thrilled to bring Langham into Sydney and we are well placed to continue to position this hotel at the top of the market. "Brett Butcher continued.

http://www.drinksmediawire.com/afficher_cdp.asp?id=10537&lng=2

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney Reveals Plans for Major Public Space Refurbishment
Wednesday, 13 June 2012

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney has embarked on an exciting multi-million dollar refurbishment to its food and beverage operations and public spaces.
The hotel is set to offer a contemporary genre of facilities for its guests, adding a new bar, new destination restaurant, four new meeting suites, a refreshed Executive Club and new Business Centre.
Construction is already underway for the bar, which has replaced the previous Holmes conference room to the right of reception, facing George Street. The bar is expected to open in early September.
The new destination restaurant will be located on the lobby level in place of the existing bar. Construction is due to begin in July with an anticipated opening date in early November.
In addition to a new food and beverage offering, the hotel is expanding its meeting and conferencing capability, adding four new residential-style meeting suites on the second floor where Kable's currently exists. These suites are anticipated to come on line in early 2013.
All three new outlets have been designed by one of Australia’s most notable and highly-awarded interior designers, Sydney-based Michael McCann of Dreamtime Australia. McCann’s repertoire includes some of the city’s most popular and stylish venues including Felix Restaurant, The Argyle and Pony Bar and Dining.
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney General Manager, Vincent Hoogewijs, said the transformation of the hotel’s public spaces is sure to turn heads.
“The hotel is making a significant investment to offer guests a greatly-enhanced experience with some trendy new outlets to eat, drink, meet and entertain in.
The icing on the cake is that the hotel intends to work with one of Australia’s rising star young chefs who will be the creative force behind the bar and restaurant’s cuisine, so you’ll just have to watch this space!” Mr Hoogewijs said.

http://www.etravelblackboard.com/article/132609/four-seasons-hotel-sydney-reveals-plans-for-major-public-space-refurbishment

Packers hotel is only a vision at the moment. Its up to Packer, the NSW Government & Lend Lease to sort it out.

But these hotels are not enough. We need more hotels.

Would you say there is direct correlation or just coincidence that the original Barangaroo South Hotel on the Harbour was denied planning permission by the NSW Government because of the lobbying of Packer Group? Hence the Packer consortium proposal.

The hotel on the pier at Barangaroo was approved however the current state government wants Lend Lease to move the hotel as a "goodwill" gesture. They are not obliged to move it.

Packer's plans are independent of the current Lend Lease plans, so in effect were talking about two hotels, not the one.

Do you think we will end up getting two in the end?

We will definitely get one, the Packer casino is considerably less certain. That said, with his application before the Casino Authority the government has every chance to stamp out his proposal before it really gets going. If the authority approves the application for Crown to raise its stake in Echo above 10% in a timely fashion, there is every chance Packer will get his casino.

It should be pointed out that there is also talk of Packer opening a new hotel/casino in Brisbane, not to mention the expensive refurbishment works at Burswood in Perth. So the authority should be weighing up the negative implications for NSW if they refuse and Packer gets his way elsewhere.

The hotel on the pier at Barangaroo was approved however the current state government wants Lend Lease to move the hotel as a "goodwill" gesture. They are not obliged to move it.

Packer's plans are independent of the current Lend Lease plans, so in effect were talking about two hotels, not the one.

Why would the government ask that of Lend Lease? As you state it's not according to what has been approved. There is clear intent and obligations that a hotel will be made on the pier. Clearly this is a case of "badwill".

Maybe Packer will do a deal with Lend Lease. Maybe this is all negotiations considering the possible issues with financing Barangaroo. Packer would be mad to give it up and especially if it is a Richard Rogers design.

My prediction is that packer will be a JV partner with Lend Lease on Barangaroo South for the hotel & casino, once he gets a casino licence and i think that is inevitable. How could one company have the only casino licence in Sydney?

Plus Lend Lease will never allow it for Packer to build something where he has proposed, on a site that could have potentially better locational attributes.

The govt would and has asked that of LL, as part of that govt charade to appease a relatively small number of protesters when it first came to power.
Weren't you here? The govt set up a small expert panel to investigate alleged corruption under the former Labor govt.
Read the Barangaroo thread as the 'drama' is fully documented and the matter was in the headlines, newspapers, tv, etc., and was kind of hard to miss - & it went on for years not just months.
Never expect rational decisions from govt.

Lend Lease will not wait for Packer. Looking at the progress with Barangaroo South, Packer will need to get his affairs in order quite quickly before the opportunity disappears.

The casino will not fit on the pier or it's alternate location on the cove, a casino/hotel will need a huge podium to fit the game table room on the ground floors. So the Lend Lease Richard Rogers hotel on a pier can not be built as a partnership with the casino, it needs a large site, like Barangaroo Central.
Best case scenario, we get the Rogers hotel on a pier and a casino/hotel in Barangaroo Central.

^^
But we know the hotel on the pier will not go ahead. The hotel will go next to the residential towers on the northern side of the southern cove.

And Fabs - Crown doesn't need Lend Lease if it gets permission for Barangaroo Central. That would be the BDA.

I hope the Lend Lease hotel is a new to market operator - Mandarin Oriental or Ritz Carlton would be ideal. St Regis would be good too, but Starwood is already well represented in Sydney with the Sheraton, Four Points and Westin so they may be less interested.

^^
But we know the hotel on the pier will not go ahead. The hotel will go next to the residential towers on the northern side of the southern cove.

And Fabs - Crown doesn't need Lend Lease if it gets permission for Barangaroo Central. That would be the BDA.

I hope the Lend Lease hotel is a new to market operator - Mandarin Oriental or Ritz Carlton would be ideal. St Regis would be good too, but Starwood is already well represented in Sydney with the Sheraton, Four Points and Westin so they may be less interested.

Four Seasons or Fairmont if Canadians are investing....

AFR reported today that the Spanish Club on Liverpool St has lodged a DA to convert it's upper levels into a 80 room hotel.

Looks like the hotel conversion on corner of Pitt & Hunter St may be one step closer...
One store has closed, another will be closing tomorrow.

^^ this one...

Seems hotels are coming back into favour!

Aside from the recent opening of The Darling at The Star (5 star, 171 rooms), the redevelopment of the Gowings Building into the QT Hotel (4.5 star, 196 rooms), the proposed Barangaroo hotel (~250 rooms) and at least 1 new hotel at the Convention Centre, the latest proposal is to convert the commercial and retail building at 34-36 Hunter Street into a 3 star, 282 room hotel. It is located on the corner of Pitt and Hunter Streets, opposite the Radisson Plaza Hotel.

http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Datasource/DANotifications/1039891_034.pdf

The hotel is not going to win any architectural awards, but it will be good to see a more affordable accommodation option come online.

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/8623/hunterstreethotel2.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/607/hunterstreethotel2.jpg/)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/671/hunterstreethotel.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/4/hunterstreethotel.jpg/)

http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Datasource/DANotifications/1039891_037.pdf

^^
Good to know! Thanks for posting :)

DA for a 164-room hotel as part of the redevelopment of Royal Far West land at Manly. Includes a 9 storey building which is the subject of a NIMBY article from the Terrograph (shades part of the beach at 5pm in summer!!). Guess that's a good spot to put out the beach towel and avoid skin cancer...

DA;
https://majorprojects.affinitylive.com/public/ff77856db3685623deda0a9e753a6136/SA4105%20RFW%20FINAL%20EA%20FOR%20PUBLIC%20EXHIBITION%2024%20AUG%2011%20AH.pdf

Article;

Shadow boxing over plans to put sand in the shade
VIKKI CAMPION, URBAN AFFAIRS REPORTER The Daily Telegraph January 25, 2013 12:00AM

A "SURFER'S Paradise-style" redevelopment threatens to cast a shadow on Manly Beach.

Under concept plans before the state government, the Royal Far West School for Excellence, a charity that helps rural children with disabilities, will be replaced with a $229 million hotel, apartment, school and medical centre featuring a nine-storey building that blocks the sun from the sand.

Shade projections show shadows will be cast from 5pm in summer, from 4.30pm in March and from 4pm in winter.

"It's not about whether they are a charity, it's about the future of our village and they want to turn it into Surfers Paradise," Manly councillor Candy Bingham said.

"The promenade will be in the shadow from 3.30pm onward. The lifeguards are there until 7pm, the sunset doesn't finish until 8pm and the beach will be in complete shadow from 6pm."

A Planning Department spokesman said any over-shadowing of Manly Beach was "acceptable, as it will not happen until the early evening during mid-summer".

Royal Far West CEO Lindsay Cane said there were two other buildings up to nine storeys tall nearby. "In mid-summer, the beach will not be impacted until after 5pm. The beach is currently overshadowed to a similar extent by various buildings along South Steyne," he said.

"The proposed commercial development is designed to fund the construction of our Centre of Excellence, a facility we need to grow the number of country kids and families we can help.

"Currently we deliver specialised medical services to 800 families a year, in addition to conducting clinics in rural areas.

"The sad fact is, though, there are about 40,000 kids who still need our help.

"We cannot support them without growing our charity and expanding our facilities. That's what the redevelopment is for. If anyone has alternative ideas of how this can be funded, I would be delighted to hear from them."

Madeleine Parry, 18, spends every weekend at Manly Beach and said the development would ruin the tourist hot spot.

"I'm down there every weekend if not more than once a week. There are apartments that height further down the street, but that part [affected by the development] is central," she said. "But putting a building in a prime spot where tourists go would spoil it a lot. People hang out there until 5.30pm during summer."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/shadow-boxing-over-plans-to-put-sand-in-the-shade/story-e6freuy9-1226561253640


The Councillor has clearly never been to Surfers Paradise (or not at least since the 1950s) because buildings there are a bit taller than 9 storeys - even parts of the Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore, Mooloolaba) have taller buildings.

And here's a stroke of genius - providing hotel rooms AT the beach has actually benefited the SEQ tourist strips (not destroyed them as the councillor would like to think).

Another tale of the NIMBY bandwagon getting up in arms over a couple of floors...

^^
Good to know! Thanks for posting :)

DA for a 164-room hotel as part of the redevelopment of Royal Far West land at Manly. Includes a 9 storey building which is the subject of a NIMBY article from the Terrograph (shades part of the beach at 5pm in summer!!). Guess that's a good spot to put out the beach towel and avoid skin cancer...

DA;
https://majorprojects.affinitylive.com/public/ff77856db3685623deda0a9e753a6136/SA4105%20RFW%20FINAL%20EA%20FOR%20PUBLIC%20EXHIBITION%2024%20AUG%2011%20AH.pdf

Article;



The Councillor has clearly never been to Surfers Paradise (or not at least since the 1950s) because buildings there are a bit taller than 9 storeys - even parts of the Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore, Mooloolaba) have taller buildings.

And here's a stroke of genius - providing hotel rooms AT the beach has actually benefited the SEQ tourist strips (not destroyed them as the councillor would like to think).

Article translates roughly as:

Ooooh no, outsiders! Keep the peons away!

Any highrise development in beachfront areas of Sydney over the past two decades always bring out the "it turns xxx into Surfers Paradise".

Ruining Manly??? in what way? Manly needs a bit of modernising to keep with the times.

Turn into Surfers Paradise? One would think that would be a positive attribute not a negative one. These people make no sense.

^^
The contrary actually. As a born and bred SEQlder, Surfers' reputation has taken a battering. Whilst we might appreciate the skyline, Surfers itself is synonymous with roided up guys, skanky girls, schoolies, drunks and sleeze in general. There is no remote sophistication or cultural interest about the place.

The Gold Coast has much nicer beachside suburbs with highrises (particularly Broadbeach and Main Beach) without the sleeze. Unfortunately for these parts "Gold Coast"and "Surfers" are used virtually interchangeably.

Article in the AFR:

Conrad eyes Sydney

New Zealand's largest apartment developer, Conrad Properties, is making a play to convert an office building in the Sydney CBD into a serviced apartment complex.
The group, which has had its headquarters in Sydney for more than a decade, is hoping to capitalise on what is sees as pent-up demand for short-stay accommodation.
It is planning to convert the near empty office building at 160 Sussex Street into a 15-storey serviced apartment complex. The building is owned by the Aviva Investors Asia Pacific Property Fund, but the previous anchor tenant left in May 2011.
Under the plan, Conrad Properties would acquire the office tower market analysts say it could trade for about $35 million and then proceed with the conversion. Aviva declined to comment on the deal and Conrad Properties director Stephen Sutorius said there was an agreement in place but details were confidential. He is bullish on the central city
area's prospects, saying the group wants to convert the office tower into 214 serviced apartments. It is awaiting feedback from Sydney City Council but is hopeful the project can be ready by late 2015. Mr Sutorius said the timing would tie in with the completion of the Barangaroo office towers and the nearby $1 billion Sydney International Convention Exhibition and
Entertainment precinct. Also nearby, the Four Points by Sheraton hotel is seeking approval for a $150 million project to build an additional 231 rooms. Conrad Properties has developed about 3500 apartments in New Zealand, owns a number of commercial
buildings and has just completed a retail development in Auckland. The group is in talks with potential operators but plans to hold the apartment complex as an investment.

^^
The contrary actually. As a born and bred SEQlder, Surfers' reputation has taken a battering. Whilst we might appreciate the skyline, Surfers itself is synonymous with roided up guys, skanky girls, schoolies, drunks and sleeze in general. There is no remote sophistication or cultural interest about the place.

The Gold Coast has much nicer beachside suburbs with highrises (particularly Broadbeach and Main Beach) without the sleeze. Unfortunately for these parts "Gold Coast"and "Surfers" are used virtually interchangeably.

Your right about the Gold Coast hubs and Surfers having that booze cruise mentality.

But were talking about the comparisons with Surfers Paradise in the context of tall buildings, not people.

Ritz-Carlton return to Australia
10 April, 2013 Anne Majumdar 0 comments

Luxury hotel firm Ritz-Carlton has signalled its intention to reenter the Australian marketplace after a decade long absence.

President and chief executive Herve Humler told Travel Today he is “determined” to reintroduce the brand, which once had properties in the CBD’s Macquarie Street and in Double Bay.

The Australian market had been a “rollercoaster,” he said. But he was expressed confidence it had become more stable in recent years, prompting the firm to seek local management opportunities.

While Humler was keen to establish hotels in each of the capital city areas, with an additional resort property, he highlighted Sydney as top priority.

But despite his eagerness, he has yet to find a suitable opportunity.

“There’s a lack of equity to develop hotels in Australia,” Humler said. “Not a lot of people want to invest.”

http://www.travelweekly.com.au/travel-today/news/ritz-carlton-return-to-australia


---------
Candidate for 500 room 5 star hotel offerring by Lend Lease at Darling Harbour? Their Singapore hotel has 608 rooms, so it isn't outside the realms of possibility.

This is great, but there is a part of me that thinks "F**k you!" you ditched us in the bad times while other brands remained and now our economy is on the up, you want part of it again.

^^
Which property did they operate on Macquarie Street, was it Sir Stamford?

They are a more exclusive hotel operator than most in the market at present, and their Double Bay property at least wouldnt have reflected that (in terms of location and the decline of Double Bay). Perhaps it's only now that Ritz Carlton feels like they can justify operations in the Australian market?

This is great, but there is a part of me that thinks "F**k you!" you ditched us in the bad times while other brands remained and now our economy is on the up, you want part of it again.

That is global business. How many international banks have pulled out of Sydney since 2008. Should we not welcome them back when things improve and they are looking for growth?

Anyway Ritz-Carlton is just a brand of Marriott, which still operates in Sydney.

Which property did they operate on Macquarie Street, was it Sir Stamford?

Yes the old Ritz-Carlton was at #93. They were the ones who converted it into a hotel from the government printing offices. Bizzarly it seems the space where the newbuild hotel stands was always vacant.

http://143.119.202.10/_DAMl/image/14/160/d4_04066r.jpg
1982

http://143.119.202.10/_DAMl/image/12/112/d2_04264r.jpg
1954

http://143.119.202.10/_DAMl/image/11/110/d1_13932r.jpg
1919

There are a ton of old photos here.
http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/simpleSearch.aspx?authority=place&ID=277270

^ No of course we welcome back, but I think it harms the brand locally. In terms of hotels it will be mostly interstate/international staying there who would be none the wiser, but personally I'd use a company who has a good track record and a history with Sydney/Australia, not one who buggers off when times get tough.

From what I heard, wasn't the cause of their departure because their properties were bought by the company that owns the Stamford brand, and they pushed Ritz-Carlton out of management? Ritz-Carlton didn't actually own the buildings their hotels were located in, from my understanding.
As it turns out, all the Stamford properties seem to have been intended for conversion to residential (Macquarie St, Double Bay, the one on Kent St north).

^^
Turns out the old Double Bay site will actually be operating as a hotel by the end of the year.

Hotel revamp planned as Ritz-Carlton site sold, Double Bay one step closer to a revival
STAFF WRITERS WENTWORTH COURIER APRIL 06, 2013 12:00AM

The lack of a hotel in Double Bay has been touted as one reason why the suburb hasn't thrived in recent years.

THE old Ritz-Carlton site in Double Bay will reopen as a hotel by the end of the year, after the site was sold to the Royal Hotels Group from Singapore on Thursday.

A spokesman from Scarborough Pacific Group, which previously owned the site, confirmed the sale and said the Singaporean group planned to reopen the hotel before the end of the year.

Room refurbishment and renovations are expected to start in six to eight weeks.

The spokesman also confirmed that Scarborough would pursue legal action against former employees Nikki Garrett and Sam Renauf, who allegedly held unauthorised activities in the building, including serving liquor without a licence.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/hotel-revamp-planned-as-ritz-carlton-site-sold-double-bay-one-step-closer-to-a-revival/story-fngr8h22-1226613418108

Looks like Sofitel have plans for Sydney. http://m.smh.com.au/executive-style/business-travel/sofitel-flags-luxury-hotel-expansion-20130415-2huec.html

I think the Wentworth would be a good choice because over the years it has gone from being the top hotel in town. It needs a spark to get itself going again.

This is great, but there is a part of me that thinks "F**k you!" you ditched us in the bad times while other brands remained and now our economy is on the up, you want part of it again.

LOL - So many of you are deadset brainwashed. Fact: The economy is actually on the way down, hence the emergency interest rate levels, with probably more reductions to come. Lower rates are meant to "stimulate" a poor economy, but they aren't doing much. People are too bogged down in massive mortgage debt and things WILL NOT pick up until that is resolved.

If it wasn't for foreigners being able to pay the exhorbitant high prices for new apartments (Highrise Harry has admitted that most of his sales are to foreigners) then a lot of these apartment towers we are getting WOULD NOT be happening. YAY - we get towers (but you youngens get priced out as a small consequence). But I digress ...

Fuckn hell you people!!

.

Looks like Sofitel have plans for Sydney. http://m.smh.com.au/executive-style/business-travel/sofitel-flags-luxury-hotel-expansion-20130415-2huec.html

Wasn't the Wentworth renovated about 5 years ago? Good news though.

LOL - So many of you are deadset brainwashed. Fact: The economy is actually on the way down, hence the emergency interest rate levels, with probably more reductions to come. Lower rates are meant to "stimulate" a poor economy, but they aren't doing much. People are too bogged down in massive mortgage debt and things WILL NOT pick up until that is resolved.

If it wasn't for foreigners being able to pay the exhorbitant high prices for new apartments (Highrise Harry has admitted that most of his sales are to foreigners) then a lot of these apartment towers we are getting WOULD NOT be happening. YAY - we get towers (but you youngens get priced out as a small consequence). But I digress ...

Fuckn hell you people!!

.

*Yawn*

Poor choice of words. Perhaps I should have said is up compared to a lot of other economies. Either way we are not exactly struggling .. yet

^ Your comment was just representative of what the average person has been lead to believe, that is all. It's not your fault you don't question yourself, it's the Aussie way. She'll be right. Anyway ...

Wasn't the Wentworth renovated about 5 years ago? Good news though.

It was renovated back in 2007. For a moment I thought maybe they were talking about a total overhaul, exterior and interior until I discovered this. I guess those bland, suburban brick walls are never going away.

The Wentworth Hotel facing Chifley Square is a twenty storey tower of Post War Minimalist Style. It is of historic importance for its association with QANTAS and QANTAS House. The hotel is important as the only Australian work by Skidmore Owings and Merrill, and as the oldest major Sydney Hotel. The Wentworth Hotel is aesthetically significant
...
The overall form of Wentworth Hotel should be retained and conserved and continue as a hotel. A conservation plan should be prepared to guide the future use and maintenance of the building. Finishes never intended for painting, such as face brick and granite should remain unpainted and should continue to be appropriately maintained.

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2423918

Yes, it is very much listed. So no change to the exteriors. They could expand though if they bought the building next door, Union House?

Yes, Union Club. A couple of years back the Union Club made a foray into potential development for the site but got knocked back for all the usual reasons: too high, too high FSR, etc. We might have got a very slender, moderately tall building, but the proponents retired battered and defeated.
Wonder if the hotel bought the 2 buildings on its northern side it could use FSR for the whole site, to build to a decent height, or, like 1 Bligh would such a proposal fall foul of shadow restrictions?

There are height restrictions on that site due to the sun access plane on The Domain even though Chifley Tower blocks the view fairly much.

I think without those restrictions you could build quite tall. The union house proposal was about 110 metres from memory but the size of the site and the FSR do put a dampner on it.

The 90 room, 1888 Hotel in Pyrmont looks set to open in June.

http://www.8hotels.com/sydney-hotels/1888hotel

^ That's a great reno! At first I thought I read "1888 room hotel in Pyrmont set to open" and thought "how did we miss that one?".

With 34-36 Hunter Street, Dymocks has abruptly closed. The store looked as if it were open for business as per usual just three weeks ago. That tells me the conversion to hotel is about to begin . :)

Good stuff! We need more accommodation at the mid/lower end of the hotel market. A lot of the product that will come online in the next few years is mid/higher end.

The DA for a 15 storey conversion from commercial to serviced apartments at 160-166 Sussex Street was refused.

http://development.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/DASearch/Detail.aspx?id=1086577

I'd really like to see 88 Walker Street (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1506941) built, but I guess there's not a lot of hotel demand in the North Sydney CBD.

^^
Yes it is a bit of a pity that that hasn't gotten up yet. An equal pity is that the DA was cancelled for this hotel (DoubleTree by Hilton) also in North Sydney.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=74318&highlight=doubletree+hilton&page=51

Overview;
Consent is sought for the demolition of the existing building, preparatory site works, the erection of a 28 storey hotel (to be known as 'Doubletree by Hilton North Sydney') above basement car parking, along with associated public domain, drainage and other works,

The hotel will contain:-
- 355 rooms;
- a total GFA of 19,525m';
- a café on the ground floor;
- restaurants and bar areas;
- a fitness centre;
- an executive board room;
- a convention/function centre; and
- 63 parking spaces accessed via 2 car lifts off Little Walker Street.

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/5230/screenshot20121220at104.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/600/screenshot20121220at104.png/)

Between the two of them, they would have delivered 555 hotel rooms to the North Sydney market. That combined with the 882 approved apartments for North Sydney could have been the beginning of some life again at street level. The new council has been in for 8 months next month and they haven't moved anywhere near quickly or radically enough to wake North Sydney from its slumber. In fact they seem more content shying away from contributing to Vivid Sydney than anything else.

With 34-36 Hunter Street, Dymocks has abruptly closed. The store looked as if it were open for business as per usual just three weeks ago. That tells me the conversion to hotel is about to begin . :)

Decided to follow up with some photos.

http://imageshack.us/a/img838/871/img6899nb.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img211/1374/img6901g.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img189/2749/img6900o.jpg