Design and innovation are key driving factors in the increasingly competitive hotel industry, travel editor Winsor Dobbin reports.
Nowhere is that more evident than at a new hotel complex at Melbourne Airport that may be a signpost to the future. The Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport is two hotels in one; sharing the same lobby area, food and beverage outlets, health and wellness centre; Higher State, with a gym, swimming pool and treatment rooms.
And function rooms – with a ballroom that can host up to 330 people. Oh, and the same general manager. All just a short stroll from Terminal 4.
You will not miss the complex with the twin hotels featuring a striking architectural design from Fender Katsalidis, the company behind Levantine Hill in the Yarra Valley and Hobart’s MONA. The lobby and public spaces sit under a cylindrical roof – and that space also houses Aerofoil, the hotel’s co-working space.
Two connected wings house the hotel brands – turn left after reception for the fun and funky ibis Styles and right for the more sedate Novotel. Vibrant pops of colour and striking lighting design greeting guests when they walk through the front doors. The ibis property has an urban vibe, with the Novotel design a nod to the colours of regional Victoria.
Modern technology means there are kiosks where you can check yourself in, but I preferred the human touch when I checked into the 216-room ibis Styles.
“We are more than just your average airport hotel, offering all the facilities of a city hotel but conveniently located at the airport,” says GM David Alexander. “Plus, we are home to Melbourne Airport’s first wellness hub, Higher State, and the airport’s first co-working space, Aerofoil Workspace.
“From what we have created here, you really don’t have to be flying somewhere to enjoy our incredible facilities and hospitality. We welcome guests to stay with us while exploring all that is on offer right on our doorstep within the airport precinct including URBNSurf, Sunbury wine region and the Essendon Football Club, to name a few.”
Small Holdings, daytime only, offers café fare, St ALi coffee and freshly baked goods and sandwiches, while Boccata Restaurant and Wine Bar celebrates Italian food culture.
Boccata means ‘a mouthful” and the serves are certainly generous.
We enjoyed the fun vibe of dishes like deep-fried lasagne with paprika mayo, a mortadella pizza, a tomato-driven rigatoni and fior di latte soft serve with olive oil and Murray salt.
The inspiration for the Boccata menu comes from family Italian roots and the stories of Melbourne’s Italian immigrant community.
“When we set out to create this menu, we wanted to honour those cherished memories while celebrating the incredible produce from Victoria’s local farmers,” says consultant chef Rosy Scatigna.
“Each dish is a tribute to the past and a nod to the vibrant food culture that surrounds us, blending time-honoured Italian recipes with the best ingredients this region has to offer.”
Another F&B option, Amber State Taphouse & Kitchen, open from midday until late with craft brews and barbecue flavours, opened after our stay.
The 4-star Novotel, meanwhile, has 248 rooms with six different room configurations and has some rooms with excellent runway views. The gym and pool are complimentary for Novotel guests, single entry to the gym is $15 for ibis guests while a casual pass for non-hotel guests is $25 – perfect if you have some time to kill before a connecting flight.
Aerofoil Workspace offers a variety of workspaces, including hot desks, private offices, and meeting rooms, and rooms are available to hire by the hour or a full day!
Should you need a room for just a few hours, prices start from $100 at Dayuse.com
Rooms at the Novotel start from around $250 per night depending on the season, with the ibis Styles starting from $180.
# The writer was hosted by Accor Hotels
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Spring into the vines
If you love cool-climate wines and have been meaning to escape to Tasmania for a few days, then the weekend of November 1-3 might be the perfect opportunity.
At least 37 wine producers from the Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley and the Huon Valley/d’Entrecasteaux Channel are teaming up for Spring in the Vines (top image), the fourth edition of a weekend of tastings and entertainment.
They range from big names like Frogmore Creek, Pooley, Derwent Estate, Nocton and Bream Creek to tiny wineries like Yellow Point, Premaydena Hill, and Saltwater River Wines, perhaps making just 100 dozen cases off the beaten track.
Spring in the Vines is presented by Wine South Tasmania who have teamed up with several top Hobart hotels and local wine tour guides to show off the wine trails across the south of the island state.
Tasmania is known for its pinot noir, chardonnay, sparkling wines and riesling, but there are also adventurous producers including Kate Hill Wines, who produce shiraz from the coldest and southernmost shiraz vineyard in the country.
Plan your visit at https://www.winesouth.com.au/events
You can drive yourself or join a chauffeured wine tour with The Derwent Experience, Aging Barrel Tours, or Apple Isle Wine Tours.
Hotels offering discounted rates of up to 15% for the weekend include The Tasman, Hadley’s Orient Hotel, The Old Woolstore and MACq 01.
Next month: Vietnam travel special
You can see more of Winsor’s travel tips at www.gourmetontheroad.com.