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Marriott International, Inc., announced plans to introduce The Ritz-Carlton, its iconic luxury brand, to Phuket, Thailand following the signing of an agreement with Asset World Corporation (AWC). The agreement stipulates plans for the strategic renovation and rebranding of the existing Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket. Expected to open in 2025, The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket anticipates setting a new benchmark for luxury hospitality on the island.
With its serene and secluded location on the unspoiled east coast of the island overlooking the Andaman Sea, The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket expects to offer guests a spectacular scenery and uninterrupted ocean views. The hotel is a short distance from Phuket’s old town, with its vibrant markets, shophouse restaurants and elegant Sino-Portuguese architecture.
“We are pleased to strengthen our long-term collaboration with Asset World Corporation to rebrand and reposition our existing property with today’s signing,” said Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific (Excluding China), Marriott International. “We are confident that The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket, once opened, will be well-positioned to meet the increased demand of luxury travel, in line with the Thailand Government’s goal of attracting more discerning travelers to the Thai Kingdom.”
The resort is expected to undergo an extensive rebranding, ensuring that it reflects the contemporary design and thoughtful amenities that The Ritz-Carlton is known for is known for. Upon opening, The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket anticipates offering 182 stylish guestrooms, suites, and private villas, ranging from a spacious 50 square meters to an expansive 196 square meters. Guests will be able to dine and socialize at a choice of eight restaurants, bars, and lounges, work out at the well-equipped fitness center, or cool off in three swimming pools. Plans also call for a signature Ritz-Carlton Spa with eight treatment rooms, whirlpools, plunge pools, steam rooms, a sauna, and a salon.
Meeting planners will be able to take advantage of four function rooms with 544 square meters of indoor space, plus a 168-square meter pre-function area and elegant alfresco spaces – ideal for out-of-town events and one-of-a-kind weddings.ADVERTISEMENT“AWC has great confidence in Thailand’s tourism industry, and by partnering with Marriott International to bring the world-renowned Ritz-Carlton brand to the country will not only strengthen Phuket as a world-class tourism destination but also continue the development of Thailand as a global sustainable tourism leader. AWC is firmly committed to positioning the destination as a leader in sustainability, ensuring that we create true value for the environment, surrounding communities, and long-term stable growth. We aim to develop The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket in line with LEED and WELL green building standards, prioritizing energy saving and circular economy on waste management, helping to move Thailand toward becoming a global sustainability destination. The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket will be located close to island’s old town, immersing guests in the area’s rich culture, while it will also be a short distance to the harbor from where they can travel to Thailand’s most popular seaside destination.
“The debut of The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket will add to AWC’s diverse portfolio of hotels in Phuket, and The Ritz-Carlton, Phuket, will help attract luxury travels and generate MICE demand globally,” said Wallapa Traisorat, Chief Executive Officer and President, Asset World Corp Public Company Limited.
Thailand’s largest island, Phuket is a tropical paradise with a wealth of attractions, from white sandy beaches and crystal-clear seas to world-class leisure facilities, rich cultural heritage and much more. In Phuket, Marriott International currently operates nine hotels across seven brands, including Marriott Hotels, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Le Méridien, Four Points by Sheraton, Courtyard by Marriott, and The Luxury Collection.

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Together, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Sustainable Hospitality Alliance unveiled their joint Hotel Sustainability Basics label at ITB Berlin 2023. The aim is that by fulfilling 12 criteria in three categories, every hotel owner can actively set course for a sustainable future, regardless of size, location or corporate structure.On condition the criteria are met within three years, companies will receive a seal of approval showing guests they are taking the sustainability concept seriously.
WTTC President Julia Simpson was impressed. “The tourism industry wants self-imposed sustainability criteria to encourage the entire hospitality industry to engage with this concept.” With this seal of approval every type of accommodation could show it was willing and could implement it as a bare minimum. Requirements include measuring and reducing energy and water consumption, programmes for re-using clothing, use of green cleaning agents, choice of vegetarian dishes, plastic avoidance as well as evidence of benefiting the community and reducing inequality.
The travel and tourism industry had for some time already been making a clear move in the direction of greater sustainability, Simpson said. At the same time many hotel companies still faced big challenges in this area, in particular due to financial hardship and staff shortages. For that reason, the world’s hotel industry was coming together to determine decisive first steps which every hotel, regardless of size, resources and progress to date could and should undertake in order to establish a basic level of sustainability across the entire sector.
The criteria were intended as a first step on the path to gradually embracing sustainability which could then branch out in more ambitious directions such as the Pathway to Positive Hospitality of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, added: “Collectively, hospitality is a force not be underestimated. Our vision is that of a thriving and responsible hospitality sector that gives destinations back more than it takes.“
By pursuing the Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality with a holistic approach the aim was to bring people, planets, places and wealth together to create a better and more sustainable future for everyone“, Mandziuk said. “Now is the time to act!“ agreed Inge Huijbrechts, global senior vice president, Sustainability, Security and Corporate Communications, Radisson Hotel Group: “A lot of guests would like to see corporate management be more sustainable, but many hotel owners have no idea where to start. That is where the seal of approval comes in.”ADVERTISEMENT

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Vivrelle, the first-of-its-kind membership club that offers access to a shared closet of designer handbags and accessories, today announces a partnership with Four Seasons Hotel Houston and Four Seasons Private Residences Los Angeles. The partnership provides hotel guests with complimentary access to Vivrelle’s closet of accessories from brands including Prada, Gucci, Dior and more, regardless of their membership status. 
Vivrelle’s innovative partnership with Four Seasons Private Residences is the first of its kind available at a luxury residence. Homeowners of the property will have exclusive access to Vivrelle’s closet, and can swap luxury items on site, at their own convenience.
Furthermore, guests of Four Seasons Hotel Houston have the option to borrow Vivrelle’s luxury accessories during their stay, free of charge. Similar to a courtesy car, Four Seasons hotel guests can borrow items on property throughout their stay, regardless of membership status. Guests can swap out styles throughout the duration of their stay or sign up on-site and borrow from the larger Vivrelle closet, providing the ultimate flexibility for luxury vacationers. Additionally, as an extension of the partnership, Vivrelle members will receive exclusive rates at Four Seasons Hotel Houston.
“Four Seasons is a like-minded partner that we have always admired and loved,” says Blake Geffen, co-founder of Vivrelle. “We are thrilled to be partnering with select properties and are eager to grow the relationship with The Four Seasons. Our brands have a shared affinity for providing a luxury experience rooted in convenience, care, and customers first. This partnership will expand our reach across the country, and we’re excited for this new era of accessory accessibility in today’s travel and luxury landscape.”
“Offering exclusive access to Vivrelle’s shared closet of luxury accessories is an exciting and innovative way to enhance our guest experience,” says Tom Segesta, General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Houston. “We see this partnership a perfect fit, further defining Four Seasons Hotel Houston as the place where urban elegance and southern charm collide.” ADVERTISEMENTThe partnership comes on the heels of Vivrelle’s closure of its Series B round of funding in late 2022, raising $35MM with participation from celebrities Nina Dobrev, Lily Collins and Morgan Stewart McGraw.
Vivrelle continues to build on the changing landscape of the shared closet and luxury resale experience and drives forward its status as a vanguard in advancing accessibility and circularity. Vivrelle’s inventory and membership options can be found on Vivrelle.com.

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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has today launched the Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics) verification scheme. Announced at ITB Berlin, Basics will ena-ble tourist accommodation providers from around the world, regardless of their size, to begin their sustainability journey.
Basics, an industry-wide supported initiative, first launched at WTTC’s Global Summit in Manilla last year, is a globally recognised and coordinated set of criteria that all hotels should implement as a minimum to drive responsible and sustainable Travel & Tourism.
Basics emerged as a result of a clear demand from a group of influential global hotel brands and whilst there a great number of sustainability initiatives, Basics focuses on an achievable starting point. It will encourage all hospitality businesses to begin their sustaina-bility journeys and redefine the non-negotiables of sustainability in the industry.
Made up of 12 key criteria, the Basics are achievable for all hotels to implement as a bare minimum. They serve as a stepping-stone to more complex sustainability schemes and even greater sustainability.
Basics has also been recognised by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance as the starting point for a net positive industry, who announced the latest version of the Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality.ADVERTISEMENTVerification Scheme
In order to ensure the validity of the programme WTTC partnered with Green Key and SGS to develop a simple online verification system to allow hotels to provide evidence and en-sure they are following the Basics.
The verification scheme enables hotels and other tourist accommodation to be officially verified for meeting eight of the 12 criteria in the first year and demonstrate their com-mitment to working toward all 12 of the criteria by year three.
Together, the criteria ensure the sector is eco resilient and adaptive to the changing needs of the planet.
Hotel Partners
Six major international hotel groups, collectively representing tens of thousands of sites from around the world have now joined Basics as inaugural partners. The first hotel groups include well-known brands such as Accor, Jin Jiang International, Louvre Hotels Group, Meliá Hotels International, Meininger, and Radisson Hotel Group.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said “We are incredibly proud to have launched the verification scheme for Hotel Sustainability Basics. The initiative is a response to the sector’s need for a baseline for hotels and other tourist lodgings to start their sustainability jour-neys.
“Our research shows that most business owners are aware of their responsibility to the en-vironment but many sustainability practices such as efficient water use initiatives are patchy. Basics fills the gap by creating that level playing field for the sector.
“It is testament to the need for such a scheme that already thousands of hotels from around the world have already signed up to Basics and are beginning their verification processes from today.”
Inge Huijbrechts, Global Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Security & Corporate Com-munications at Radisson Hotel Group said “Hotel Sustainability Basics is filling a new and unanswered demand in the hotel industry: to provide a solid, trusted, and clear label for es-sential hotel sustainability. It’s important we define responsible travel to preserve the planet and protect communities. With Hotel Sustainability Basics we offer the traveller a clear sus-tainable stay option for all types of hotels around the world.
“Radisson Hotel Group commits to implement Hotel Sustainability Basics in all its 1,100 ho-tels by 2025. We do this together with our shareholder Jin Jiang International, their affiliate Louvre Hotel Group and other major hotel groups and destinations around the world.”
Green Lodgings Trend Report
WTTC carried out an extensive international benchmarking exercise through the Green Lodgings Trends Report, learning from 27,000 accommodation providers on how they are currently fairing against the 12 criteria.
Crucially, this benchmark will allow WTTC to track the progress of Basics over time.
Almost 100% of accommodation providers implement at least one initiative to reduce ine-quality and 96% have adopted linen reuse programmes.
The report also showed many hoteliers are establishing sustainable practices but there is still a way to go for these to become common across the sector.
Two-thirds of those surveyed have already begun to eliminate the use of certain single-use plastics such as straws and implementing other waste reduction initiatives.
Emerging practices were also highlighted in the report.
Almost half of respondents have replaced small plastic toiletry bottles with bulk dispensers and a third now provide vegetarian options for every course in their food and beverage pro-vision.
Sector Partners
In addition to the Alliance, WTTC collaborated with other key leading sector figures includ-ing representatives from Greenview, WTTC’s hotel members, Expedia, the Global Sustaina-ble Tourism Council (GSTC), Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Trip.com, as well as the certification bodies SGS and Green Key.
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance said “We are incredibly proud to work alongside the World Travel & Tourism Council to launch the Hotel Sustainability Ba-sics. Basics is a key part of the Alliance’s Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality which sets am-bitious targets to create a prosperous and responsible global hospitality sector that gives back to the destination more than it takes.
“Net Positive Hospitality is a tremendous objective for us to achieve. Going beyond net zero and actually being contributory to the world’s future is a bold ambition but one I believe that the sector can achieve.”
Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) said “Hotels throughout the world need to march towards sustainability quickly but the first step can be the hardest.
“The WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics provide an excellent way to understand and take the first steps. With twelve clear actions that map to the eight of the GTSC Industry Criteria, the Basics are indeed an essential part of the journey.”
Jane Sun, Group CEO of Trip.com said “Sustainability is a collective goal. As demand for sus-tainable options increases, Trip.com Group will deepen cooperation with our partners, in-cluding WTTC, and empower hotels globally to adopt the best sustainability practices.”
Destination Partners
A number of global tourism destinations have already recognised the strength of Hotel Sus-tainability Basics and demonstrated their commitment to ensure their hotels implement the Basics.
Azerbaijan was the first Destination Partner to support the Basics, followed by other sup-porters such as Belize, Colombia, and Mauritius.
Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board said “The Basics are an im-portant add-on to Azerbaijan’s sustainable tourism development strategy. We are commit-ted to prioritize sustainability throughout the entire value chain and customer journey.
“We take pride in being a country partner of this initiative and pledge to continue our ef-forts in promoting responsible tourism practices.  Our mission is to care for the country’s intangible and tangible resources for future generations to enjoy, and a tourism industry, that benefits both visitors and hosts alike.”

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Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations, Amaala and The Red Sea, has today announced a partnership with leading longevity clinic and wellness brand, Clinique La Prairie.The partnership involves the development of a high-end 36,115 sqm Clinique La Prairie Health Resort within Amaala, which is located on Saudi Arabia’s north-western coastline. The exclusive resort will offer 13 villas, as well as housing 52 rooms and suites.
“Clinique La Prairie’s world-renowned facilities and health and wellness experiences, set against Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary natural landscapes, will take our visitors on transformative personal journeys inspired by arts, wellness, and the purity of the Red Sea. The resort’s subtle beauty – a product of Islamic architecture and modern craftmanship – will deliver a serene place in which to unwind, meditate and rejuvenate,” said John Pagano, Group CEO, Red Sea Global.
Exceptional architecture
Clinique La Prairie’s approach to wellbeing prioritizes longevity. This is symbolized by the central “Longevity Plaza” leading to four distinctive areas of the resort corresponding to each one of the property’s pillars – medical care, nutrition, movement and wellbeing. These sections will host a vast array of activities and facilities, including all the latest technologies developed over 90 years by Clinique La Prairie to enable clients to live a longer, healthier, and fuller life.
The resort also features a diagnostics lab, museum, beach club, workshop and training rooms, private dining space, and even a cooking school, ensuring visitors can embark on an inimitable journey of rejuvenation and self-discovery.ADVERTISEMENT
Landscaping around the property is vital to architect John Heah’s vision for the resort. Idyllic gardens are used to establish a sense of place and tranquility and add to the connected journey for visitors.
Taking guests to a new state of mind
Clinique La Prairie has a unique approach to wellbeing, combining leading preventative medicine, genetics and epigenetics with bespoke lifestyle and nutrition plans always grounded in the latest sciences.  Using the CLP Longevity MethodTM, medical specialists and holistic experts will provide guests with highly personalized revitalizing, immune-boosting and transformative itineraries over one week or longer stays, to embrace health and life to its fullest potential.
The clinic’s expert will work to slow time, as well as restore visitors’ internal balance and remedy a wide range of conditions, including fatigue, anxiety, digestive disorders, insomnia, diabetes and more. Cutting-edge science and ancient healing practices combine to offer holistic practices.
Clinique La Prairie will offer synergistic treatments to rejuvenate inside and out. The medical pillar will include advanced diagnostics lab and radiology, physio, neuroscience, dermo, aesthetics, and dentistry. On the wellbeing side the destination will provide cryochamber, hyperbaric suites, IV infusion and a series of next-generation therapies to be unveiled, all of which contribute to Amaala’s standing as a distinctive wellness destination.

Respecting surrounding environments
Sustainability is a cornerstone of Amaala, with the entire destination set to be powered by 100% renewable energy. Respect for flora and fauna also runs through every aspect of the resort’s design. For instance, Amaala’s buildings have been brought around 100 meters back from the coastline to avoid interference with the natural habitat of the Red Sea’s fragile turtle populations. Lighting is also carefully used to protect the night sky and limit the impact of artificial light on wildlife.
Simone Gibertoni, CEO of Clinique La Prairie, stated: “At Amaala, we are creating the most important Health and Longevity-focused resort ever developed. We’re delighted to be building our very first full-scale destination in such an extraordinary setting and to help bring Red Sea Global’s vision of regenerative, ultra-luxury tourism to life.”

Phase one of the destination is well underway and expects to welcome its first guests in 2024. It will consist of eight resorts offering upwards of 1,300 hotel keys.
Upon completion, Amaala will be home to more than 3,000 hotel rooms across 25 hotels, and approximately 900 luxury residential villas, apartments, and estate homes, alongside high-end retail establishments, fine dining, wellness, and recreational facilities.

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Collective Retreats, a pioneer in outdoor experiential hospitality, has announced a partnership with NEOM to open a next generation, ultra- sustainable retreat in Trojena, the snow-capped mountain destination located in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Slated to open at the start of 2026, Collective Trojena will re-imagine the outdoor hospitality experience – offering guests unprecedented access to discover and explore the region’s spectacular and incomparable beauty located 50km from the Gulf of Aqaba.The retreat will feature approximately 60 open-air guest rooms and innovative meeting space concepts as well as dramatic water features, communal campfires and inspired culinary experiences, evoking the intrepid spirit of the Collective Retreats brand while showcasing a masterstroke blend of natural and developed landscapes. Collective Trojena will also offer direct access to the development’s full array of year-round and world-class outdoor activities including skiing and snowboarding, high altitude training, paragliding, mountain biking, hiking, and water sports as well as culture-forward programming around film, art, music, and food.
“We founded Collective Retreats with the singular goal of changing the way people travel. We want travelers to see the world with renewed curiosity and a greater appreciation for conservation of the extraordinary natural beauty that surrounds us,” said Collective Retreats CEO and Founder Peter Mack. “Trojena provides the ultimate backdrop to achieve this mission in ways we never imagined. In addition to giving a global audience a new perspective on this spectacular mountain setting, we are committed to demonstrating that luxury travel should not be extractive and it’s possible to both preserve the environment and deliver extraordinary guest experiences.”
Set within NEOM, Trojena is paving the way for the next frontier in sustainability by powering the mountain destination with a combination of solar and wind energy, while developing technology in water desalination and brine processing to achieve zero waste residual.
“Since its inception, Collective Retreats has been lauded for its innovative thinking and passionate commitment to sustainability making them the ideal partner for the Trojena NEOM project,” said Philip Gullett, Executive Director and Region Head at Trojena. “Collective Retreats will be outstanding stewards of this new outdoor retreat experience in Trojena and will perfectly complement the environmental and sustainability principles and practices that are at the core of the NEOM project.”
The partnership marks the latest agreement between a prominent brand and NEOM’s Hotel Development division which is responsible for building a future-centric hospitality ecosystem in the region.ADVERTISEMENT“Collective Retreats has a well-earned reputation for connecting guests to the most spectacular natural settings, in ways that few others have done before, while staying true to its core values of conservation and sustainability. With Trojena, and NEOM overall being home to some of the most breath-taking landscapes, we’re thrilled to have selected a partner that shares our ambition to forge a new path for our industry, one that’s characterized by travelers living with nature,” added Chris Newman, Executive Director, Hotel Development at NEOM.
Collective Trojena is among several new projects the brand plans to announce in 2023.
For more information, please visit https://www.collectiveretreats.com/trojena/.

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IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, has announced an exciting new signing in London, UK, for its upscale boutique brand Hotel Indigo.Hotel Indigo London K West Shepherds Bush will be one of the brand’s flagship London properties due to its individual design and superb location and has been signed in partnership with the Lancaster Landmark Hotel Company.
Due to open in Spring 2025, Hotel Indigo London K West Shepherds Bush will be the sixth Hotel Indigo in London. With 252 stylish bedrooms, the brand-defining property will undergo a significant refurbishment and will feature a distinctive new design with an exquisite destination restaurant and bar – the true hub of the hotel – plus a boutique spa with hydrotherapy pool and state-of-the-art business facilities and function rooms. Just like no two neighbourhoods are alike, no two Hotel Indigo properties are the same, and guests will also benefit from the reassurance of booking with a global hotel group.
All Hotel Indigo properties provide a gateway to discover some of the world’s most inspiring localities. Shepherds Bush is a thriving West London neighbourhood with excellent transport links to central London. Local attractions include Westfield London and the re-purposed Television Centre (the former BBC headquarters) in White City; Holland Park with its open-air theatre programme, Portobello Road’s eclectic market and trendy Notting Hill with its art house cinemas and independent shops.Hotel Indigo is the world’s first globally branded boutique hotel brand and in Europe alone, boasts 41* open hotels with a further 16* in the planning stages. Each Hotel Indigo operates under the ethos ‘to serve the curious’, providing an immersive hospitality experience in a lively neighbourhood location. From the design of the property through to the menus, each hotel draws on the story of its local area.
(Mrs) Willemijn Geels, VP Development Europe at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are delighted to have added Hotel Indigo London K West Shepherds Bush to our ever-growing UK portfolio. As one of IHG’s luxury & lifestyle brands, Hotel Indigo is continuing to grow in popularity, and this is reflected in the interest we are seeing from owners and investors.”
Mr Fergus Stewart, CEO Lancaster Landmark Hotel Company, said: “The signing of Hotel Indigo London K West Shepherds Bush is a wonderful moment, and we look forward to collaborating closely with our partner IHG Hotels & Resorts. The hotel will be in a prime West London location, and we look forward to making the hotel a destination in itself.”ADVERTISEMENTEstablished in 2004, Hotel Indigo is IHG’s upscale boutique brand which now has a presence globally with 143* open hotels and over 119* hotels in the pipeline. The brand is set to double its portfolio presence over the next three to five years and continue its growth as one of the largest boutique brands.

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Rising high above the Victorian bluestone walls, and perched directly inside them, TFE Hotel’s contemporary new Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne has been deliberately designed to contrast and complement the 170-year-old heritage site-turned-modern-lifestyle-precinct.
TFE’s Group Chief Operating Officer, Chris Sedgwick, said he had no doubt destination Pentridge would go from strength-to-strength with the signing of anchor tenants including BrewDog and Palace Cinema, and now the soft opening of TFE’s 106-room apartment-style hotel, ahead of its official launch in autumn.
“Right now, the finishing touches are being put on Olivine wine bar, North & Common bistro, and nine bespoke conferencing and events venues, collectively known as Chapter Place which, as a collective, will be transformative for the wider Pentridge lifestyle precinct when they open in May,” he said.
A Contemporary Hotel in an Historical Setting
According to General Manager, Jesse Kornoff, building a contemporary hotel on an historic site (adjacent to the former B Division) presented a unique set of challenges. The contemporary Adina tower took almost two years to construct with builders carefully monitoring Pentridge’s famous bluestone walls to ensure they didn’t move an inch as the three-level basement was built.ADVERTISEMENTThe modern-day Adina Hotel features built-in solar panels, the use of recycled concrete in the build, and a rainwater tank recycling system. The additional use of specialty high-tech glass that reacts with daylight to break down dirt, means the facade only needs cleaning every 12 to 24 months.
“For the eco-conscious, we also have EV charging stations in the basement, we’re close to trams, trains and buses for those that want to make the 20-minute commute into Melbourne’s CBD, and we have plenty of pedestrian and bike trails onsite,” Kornoff says.
Each of the Adina’s 106 one and two-bedroom and studio apartments offer generous living spaces and kitchen amenities and boast individual climate control and balconies.  Whilst mini bars feature local suppliers including Coburg’s own Koko Black, alongside Tyrrell’s chips, Mountain Goat Beers, Hepburn Water and Taltarni Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon.
As GM, Kornoff will oversee the hotel, events, food and beverage and experience offerings in B Division – perched a very convenient 20 minutes from the CBD and the international airport – whilst Executive Assistant Manager, Alex Bilenki, will oversee hotel operations at the Adina. Bilenki is no stranger to operations, having worked for Accor and, most recently, Mt Lofty House.
“The hotel, adjoining the soon-to-open Olivine Bar, has a beautiful lobby featuring striking art by local artists; offers easy access to the precinct’s dining and entertainment venues; is close to the Merri Creek green belt with bike and walking trains; has plenty of onsite parking and easy access to public transport; and is perfectly positioned for MICE and leisure guests with four traditional meetings spaces,” she said. “It’s also ideally situated to soak up the local culture, eateries, parks, and modern art galleries including The Heide and Division Gallery.”
New Additions to Melbourne’s Newest Dining and Entertainment PrecinctSedgwick says the experience-led event offering; knowledgeable onsite team; and high-tech National Trust tours of the historic site, will combine to make both Chapter Place and Adina Pentridge a highly sought after leisure and MICE destination.
Whilst North & Common restaurant – with Melbourne Chef, Thomas Woods, at the helm – and the moody and decadent Olivine wine bar – with bluestone interiors and an equally impressive wine list – will elevate the precinct offering and provide a unique space for hotel guests, locals, and visitors to enjoy when they open in autumn.
Sneak Peek At A One-Of-A-Kind Urban Retreat
But that’s not all that’s been hiding behind the bluestone walls with TFE Hotels today announcing the launch of a 19-room, experience-led urban retreat, The Interlude, opening in May 2023.
“The Interlude is an urban retreat-style experience, the likes of which has never-before-been-seen in Australia, and one of only a handful of prison hotel conversions in the world,” Sedgwick said. “Guests will stay in converted-cell suites which have been transformed by modern design and architecture into calming spaces.
“And, when they’re not in their room, they’ll be able to immerse themselves in the flavours, colours, and stories of Coburg’s creative arts community through curated programs, or self-guided visits to the precinct’s onsite art gallery which displays resident and emerging local artists.”
Uniquely Melbourne experiences, such as exploring the evolution of Victoria’s wine region over time and, indeed, the wine in the bottle with our Time Travel with Wine experience with Sommelier Liinaa Berry; or learning how to roll a truffle with Coburg Chocolatier, Koko Black.  Guests can also unwind in a candlelit underground relaxation pool or the retreat’s private garden.
“And drawing on the heritage of the site, guests will be invited to take a seat at the long table in the Reflection Garden, surrounded by bluestone walls, to hear the tales of the past and find out what makes the creative community so special today,” Sedgwick says.

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