Hong Kong hotel brand to launch in Melbourne
A major Hong Kong hotel brand will soon launch in Melbourne.
Hotel and serviced apartment operator Lanson Place will open in Australia in September following an $80 million redevelopment of the former Salvation Army Printing Works.
The transformation of the East Melbourne historic building was done in partnership with developer Woodlink, which has turned the 123-year-old red brick building overlooking Parliament Gardens into a hotel lobby, bar and restaurant.
There is also a new 15-storey accommodation tower behind it offering 80 hotel rooms and 57 studio and one-bedroom apartments.
The serviced residence, slated to be Lanson Place’s ninth property globally, will mark a significant shift for the brand, which has so far focused on establishing itself in Asian cities.
Founded in 1995, Lanson Place is known for its “home living” concept, offering hotel-style amenities within serviced residences. The company is a subsidiary of Wing Tai Holdings, a major Hong Kong property developer.
The Melbourne project came about due to the interest of the building’s owner, a mainland Chinese company familiar with Lanson Place’s Hong Kong hotels. While the Melbourne location is considered opportunistic, CEO Michael Hobson suggests it could be the first step towards a larger presence in Australia.
“Woodlink came to us with the opportunity, and we grabbed it,” Hobson told The Australian Financial Review.
“Once we get the Melbourne hotel open, other potential owners and developers will get to know us.
“We’d like to do more in Melbourne – elsewhere in the city – as well as in other major cities like Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.”
Hobson is looking to capitalise on Melbourne’s love for major events “where we can get higher than average room rates” supported by strong corporate demand he said.
The building itself dates back to 1901and was originally built by the Salvation Army in its Romanesque architectural style. It is located next door to Melbourne’s oldest synagogue built in 1877.
The building was sold by the Salvos to private owners in 1981 after the group shut its printing press down. Since 2000, the building has been owned by music and sports promoter Ralph Carr, who sold it for $9.7 million in 2011 to Woodlink.
Woodlink is directed by Fang Yu and Xiaodan Zhu who said, “Our investment in Lanson Place Parliament Gardens reflects our unwavering commitment to preserving the city’s architectural heritage while introducing a new standard of extended stay and hotel accommodation. We are confident that this landmark project will be the first of many in Australia.”
Hobson called the location “first class”.
“We have a very conscientious owner who has not skimped on anything and has lovingly restored the heritage building,” Hobson said.
Notably, the average room size is over 35sq m and amenities include a gym, swimming pool and spa, laundry and dry-cleaning services.
Jonathan Jackson, 24th July 2024
