Mantra Group is launching its first luxury Peppers hotel in the Australian capital, Canberra.

Set to open next month, following the rebranding of the existing Diamant Hotel in the city’s central business district, the new property will be known as the Peppers Gallery Hotel Canberra.

Boutique hotel operator, 8Hotels, recently sold the Diamant Hotel and the onsite Bicicletta restaurant to Mantra.

The addition of a city centre hotel marks an evolution of the Peppers brand, which has traditionally focused on resort destinations. The Canberra signing follows the earlier announcement of plans for another new Peppers city hotel, which is expected to open in 2016 as part of the Melbourne docklands development.

“This is a historic announcement for Peppers and the first of many CBD properties we have planned for Australia and New Zealand,” said Bob East, CEO of Mantra Group.

“We have felt for some time that the Peppers brand would work in CBD locations and needed to find the right property to align with the Peppers name. The quality and location of the Canberra hotel is a worthy choice to be the first CBD property for the group.”

“We are off to a great start with our Peppers CBD network with the Canberra and Melbourne signings and look forward to announcing further additions over the next two years,” East added.

The Peppers Gallery Hotel Canberra will offer 80 rooms, plus the Bicicletta Italian restaurant, a bar, fitness centre and spa.

Peppers currently operates a portfolio of 30 hotels and resorts across Australia and New Zealand, and recently launched the brand in Bali with the opening of the Peppers Sentosa Seminyak.

Source:  Travel Daily - 9th June 2014