W Hotels is finally set to make its debut in Melbourne when a new 294-room property opens in 2020.
Developed in partnership with Daisho Development Melbourne Pty Ltd and Cbus Property, W Melbourne will be located at 447 Collins Street.
Part of the AUD$1 billion mixed-use luxury development Collins Arch, W Melbourne will be the second W Hotel coming to Australia, following W Brisbane which is scheduled to open its doors in 2018.
Offering 294 rooms, including 40 suites and an Extreme Wow Suite, W Melbourne will be designed by SHoP Architects from New York, global design practice Woods Bagot and interior design specialists Hachem.
The hotel will feature a vibrant bar and restaurant, a spa, a state-of-the-art workout facility, and an indoor heated swimming pool.
“We’re extremely excited to be working with Daisho Development Melbourne Pty Ltd and Cbus Property to bring a second W Hotel to Australia,” said Marriott International’s Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China), Rajeev Menon.
“Melbourne is one of Australia’s most beloved cultural hubs with a strong global tourism industry, making it the perfect setting for this innovative lifestyle brand,” he said.
Marriott International’s Vice President for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Sean Hunt, also welcomed the announcement.
“The signing of W Melbourne is a part of our continued strategy to grow the brand within Australia and across the wider Pacific region,” he said.
In an exclusive interview with HM, Hunt said W Melbourne would “appeal to global jetsetters and local trendsetters” and the property would “really resonate well with Melbourne”.
When asked about the highly publicised W Sydney project at Darling Harbour which is yet to be announced, Hunt said there were “advanced discussions around a W opportunity” in the Harbour City.
W Hotels Worldwide’s Global Brand Leader, Anthony Ingham, said it was an exciting time for the brand down under.
“Melbourne, with its vibrant music, emerging fashion and bold street art, is a destination made for the W brand,” he said.
“Located in the epicentre of the city, W Melbourne will embody the city’s creative spirit while showcasing the brand’s bold and energetic take on luxury.”
W Melbourne will also cater to those looking to host an event or meeting, with the property to feature nearly 13,000 square feet of ultra-modern conference, ballroom and meeting space.
“From the outset, it was our intention to secure a hotel brand which would introduce a new take on luxury to Melbourne, complementing the rest of the Collins Arch development and forming an important part of the project’s vibrant offering,” said Mamoru Kohda, Director of Daisho.
“W Hotels is the perfect fit for Melbourne, and we look forward to this becoming one of Australia’s most sought after and talked about hotels.”
Collins Arch, a mixed-use development comprised of two towers which house a vibrant mix of premium office, retail and commercial space, are linked at the top by a residential bridge. Guests can access W Melbourne from multiple entry points across William Street, Market Street and Collins Street, with the Living Room (the brand’s take on the staid hotel lobby) and port cochère located on Flinders Lane.
W Melbourne will join the brand’s robust portfolio of 50 hotels around the globe, including the recently opened W Las Vegas, W Goa and W Punta de Mita, as well as the soon-to-open W Panama, W Shanghai and W Tel Aviv.
Marriott International says W Hotels is on track to reach 75 hotels by 2020.