Essence Apartments Open 2nd Hotel/Hospital Site in Australia
Main Photo: Essence Apartment & Suites, targeted at the medical tourism market
Date: January 2019
Location: Taringa, Brisbane, Australia
Name: Essence Apartment & Suites
No. of Keys: 63 apartments – studios, one and two bedroom
Seller: New-build above the Westside Private Hospital
Buyer: UniLodge Australia, a student housing operator, with 60 plus properties in 10 locations across Australia and New Zealand. The new development marks the second combined hotel/hospital offering from Essence Apartment and Suites – parent firm of UniLodge Australia – following the opening in 2011 of the company’s flagship hotel next door to Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside.
The accommodation is being aimed at both leisure and business travellers as well as those specifically visiting for non-urgent medical attention.
Each apartment is fitted with a kitchenette or full kitchen with modern appliances, Smart TV with Foxtel and wi-fi connection. Where space permits, some apartments have also been furnished with sofa lounges.
Guests can also take advantage of dedicated meeting and conference facilities as well as separate car parking which doesn’t interfere with regular hospital requirements. The hospital’s childcare centre is also open for guests to utilise.
The new combined hotel/hospital apartments come in studio, one and two-bedroom layouts.
Across from the reception area will be Amaretto Café and Bar, which will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner for hotel guests in the form of modern Australian and Italian fare.
The new hotel is located close to Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, Taringa train station and the University of Queensland.
UniLodge CEO Tomas Johnsson said the new opening at Westside Private Hospital helps to further consolidate the company’s inroads into the medical tourism market.
“As a uniquely integrated hotel and hospital building, Essence Suites Taringa is a fantastic new addition to our growing portfolio of healthcare accommodation properties throughout Australia and cements our role in the tourism space.”
Price: AUS$65m
Price per Key: AUS$1,031,746
THPT Comment: Very interesting move combining hotels with hospitals…THPT are working with a client to do the same in the UK, whereby the hospital can free-up beds for non-critical medical care patients…watch this space!
First Seen: Hotel Management Australia
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