Melbourne’s First Essence Hotel Opens in Carlton

Main Photo: The newly refurbished Essence Hotel Carlton

Date: June 2021

Location: Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Name: The Essence Hotel Carlton

No. of Keys: 94

Seller: The property has been shuttered for more than 10 months. It was originally the Ibis Melbourne Swanston Street.

Buyer: Essence Hotels and Apartments is creating a new accommodation model that blends hotel rooms, short-to-medium-term stays and student accommodation with the relaunch of its revitalised Essence Hotel Carlton.

Backing the long-term fundamentals of Melbourne’s tourism economy, Essence Hotels and Apartments are relaunching the six-storey accommodation following a AUD1 million renovation.

The property, located at 609 Swanston Street, had been shuttered for more than 10 months and is now re-opening as Essence Hotel Carlton to greet visitors once Covid restrictions ease.

The new hotel model will provide stays from one night to many months. It complements student accommodation in the building, drawing on the community-building expertise of its parent company UniLodge Australia, the nation’s largest student accommodation provider and manager with 30,000 beds under management.

UniLodge Australia Chief Executive Officer Tomas Johnsson said the flexibility of stay available through Essence Hotel Carlton would meet the contemporary needs of urban travellers and workers. “We know Melbourne is having a tough time right now, but we have used this period of uncertainty to reinvigorate Essence Hotel Carlton,” he said.

“Melbourne’s domestic tourism market will return to strength. In 2019, the city attracted more than 11 million visitors who generated $9.5 billion dollars in visitor expenditure.”

Mr Johnsson said the new model of short and longer-term tenures required complex regulatory provisions from the operator. But, he said, the community benefits would be worthwhile. “At Essence Hotel Carlton we’re responding to the changing market with our hotel option or longer-term accommodation community living,” he said.

THPT Comment: This appears to be their third Essence hotel, the other two being in Brisbane. Look forward to their further expansion.

First Seen: The Hotel Conversation

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