Mantra Group has taken over the Diamant Hotel Canberra, with the property set to rebrand in July as Peppers Gallery Hotel Canberra.
Boutique hotel operator 8Hotels sold the Diamant Hotel Canberra and the on-site Bicicletta restaurant operating rights to Mantra Group in an off market transaction, having overseen operations of the property since opening in 2008.
The Canberra signing consolidates another CBD announcement made earlier this year that Peppers will manage the hotel component of the new-build mixed-use development in the Docklands Melbourne precinct to open in 2016.
“This is a historic announcement for Peppers and the first of many CBD properties we have planned for Australia and New Zealand,” said Mantra Group CEO, Bob East.
“We have felt for some time that the Peppers brand would work in CBD locations and needed to find the right property to align with the Peppers name. The quality and location of the Canberra hotel is a worthy choice to be the first CBD property for the Group.
“We are off to a great start with our Peppers CBD network with the Canberra and Melbourne signings and look forward to announcing further additions over the next two years.”
The boutique hotel will rebrand as Peppers Gallery Hotel Canberra in July and offer 80 superbly appointed hotel rooms complete with Bang and Olufsen plasma TVs, iPod docking stations, plunger coffee makers, free broadband access featuring, luxurious bathrooms with rain shower and marble vanity tops and original art works throughout.
“We are happy to have completed this transaction with Mantra Group and believe that the Peppers brand is an excellent fit for this landmark property and we are confident the hotel will continue to operate to the high standards that our guests are accustomed to,” said 8Hotels CEO Paul Fischmann.
The hotel offers an acclaimed restaurant – Bicicletta offering Italian inspired cuisine – with a bar and lounge, fitness centre and day spa amongst the other hotel facilities.