World’s biggest hotel group buys into Canberra
Marriott International has announced its Canberra debut, signing with Iconic Hotels to bring the premium Autograph Collection brand to the Australian capital.
The 199-room Midnight Hotel is part of a $200 million mixed residential and commercial development under construction in the inner-city suburb of Braddon.
Owned and managed by Iconic Hotels, the accommodation division of property company Geocon, the hotel will be the company’s first premium development when it opens later this month and the first to be aligned with a hotel partner.
Marriott’s senior director of hotel development for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Richard Crawford, said the deal marks a significant milestone for the world’s biggest hotel group.
“It will be our first in the capital of Australia,” he said. “We look forward to working closely with Iconic Hotels to bring this hotel to this market.”
The property is Australia’s second Autograph Collection signing after Pier One Sydney Harbour and joins a portfolio of some 180-plus hotels worldwide selected on design credentials based around the idea of ‘the original through art’.
It will sit within a landscaped garden atrium created by urban design architects OCULUS, with interiors designed by Fender Katsalidis. Each guest room will feature an individually commissioned piece of art from international artist and architectural designer Thomas Bucich.
Iconic Hotels was establishment in 2010 as an independent arm of the Canberra-based Geocon and has delivered seven previous properties to the market.
Geocon founder and managing director Nick Georgalis said: “Canberra is in a period of unprecedented growth, with demonstrated year on year increase in domestic and international travel to our city.
“Our collaboration with Marriott International through Iconic Hotels perfectly aligns with this growth and enables us to cater for increased hospitality demands on a global scale as well as promote Canberra on an international stage.”
The Midnight Hotel facilities will include a restaurant and bar, indoor pool, wellness centre and conference and event spaces.
AccomNews is not affiliated with any government agency, body or political party. We are an independently owned, family-operated magazine.
