City hotel national award finalist

FROM a carpark to a swish CBD accommodation offering, Hobart’s ibis Styles hotel is up against six other tourism developments in Australia’s prestigious national property awards.

The hotel, in Macquarie St, is owned by Singaporean-based Fragrance Group and constructed by Hutchinson Builders. It is among 153 finalists in the 2019 Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards.

Other developments vying for honours in the Hickory Award for Best Tourism and Leisure Development category include the Adelaide Convention Centre redevelopment and the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour.

Ibis Styles Hotel is also in the running for the industry’s most coveted prize — the Rider Levett Bucknall Australian Development of the Year award.

The Property Council’s Executive Director in Tasmania, Brian Wightman, said the project team transformed a carpark into the 296-room hotel, alleviating Hobart’s short-term accommodation shortage and creating dynamic new spaces for locals.

The hotel includes underground parking, Asian fusion restaurant and bar, luxurious heated indoor swimming pool, saunas and vertical gardens.

“The largest hotel in Hobart, the ibis Styles Hotel is a welcome addition to the Hobart CBD. Impressively, the hotel achieved a 5 Star Green Star rating for its design — the only hotel in Australia to do so,” Mr Wightman said.

National winners will be announced at the awards dinner in Sydney in May.