Bringing back the ‘decadence’ of Double Bay’s InterContinental hotel

Developer Paul Fridman wants to bring back decadence and nostalgia to Double Bay’s InterContinental hotel. 

In a surprise acquisition, Fridman purchased the hotel for $178 million in a 50-50 joint venture with apartment developer and builder Piety Group.

While the question of converting the hotel to apartments still lingers, Fridman has brought in restaurateur Maurice Terzini of Icebergs fame to manage the hotel’s food and beverage department.

“Maurice Terzini is working collectively on the food and beverage, implementing his concepts and ideas and I see us giving him a platform to be creative and implement the right direction and bring back the nostalgia of the hotel,” Fridman told The Australian. 

“We have a view on hotels that need love and in the first instance to bring in an operator like Maurice Terzini will bring back the decadence this hotel should have and its grandeur. 

“It’s the only hotel of quality in (Sydney’s) east, it has a rich, eclectic history, it’s got a depth of character and its evolution (should be) decadent, grandeur and take pride of its position and place. 

“You bring a Maurice Terzini in, you bring the dynamism back. I have to bring the dynamism back.” 

Fridman plans to improve the 140-room hotel, which will include a refurbishment of the service levels in addition to immediate changes to its soft furnishings, artwork and lighting. 

“We will also increase staff numbers in the coming months to further enhance the first-class service offering,” Fridman said. 

Fridman will add to the service offering in the rooms by providing pre-mixed cocktails, detox drinks and facial masks.

The iconic hotel has a long, sometimes infamous history, hosting Sir Elton John and Madonna when it was known as the Ritz-Carlton. 

Princess Diana has stayed there and in 1997 Michael Hutchence was found dead in one of the hotel’s rooms.

Irit Jackson, 2^nd December 2021