BOUTIQUE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
The Old Clare Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Singapore hotelier Loh
Lik Peng knows a thing or seven about creating a landmark hotel. Each property in his Unlisted Collection in Singapore, London, Shanghai – and, most recently, Sydney – possesses an undeniable sense of style and place that distinguishes it from the competition. In the case of The Old Clare, in Sydney’s reinvigorated Chippendale, he’s turned an old pub and brewery offices into an irresistible city inn of high-ceilinged, heritageboned rooms with sizzling restaurants and a rooftop pool. And there’s plenty of substance to The Old Clare’s style – the winning concept of a “super concierge” shows a commitment to service as well as showmanship. theoldclarehotel.com.au Finalists: Hotel Hotel, Canberra, ACT; The Langham Sydney, NSW