Property profile: AC Hotels brings Spanish soul to Southbank

Australia’s quite initial AC Lodges by Marriott was introduced to the industry in May perhaps with the opening of AC Resort by Marriott Melbourne Southbank.

The 14th model to enter Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio in Australia, AC by Marriott is a design and style-led life-style brand name that originated in Spain in 2011 by a joint enterprise with renowned Spanish hotelier Antonio Catalan.

The 205-area Southbank lodge is situated near the South Wharf precinct – an area which is currently undergoing a major urban renewal project – and is owned by Melbourne-based mostly blended-use real estate developer and investment company Funds Alliance.

AC Resort by Marriott Melbourne Southbank Normal Supervisor, Harry Singh, explained the hotel advantages from getting the sole player in this district.

“We’ve bought the ideal of both equally worlds,” Singh explained to HM.

“We’ve got proximity (a three-moment-walk) to the Convention Centre, and we are 900 meters absent from the South Melbourne marketplace. The subsequent hotel from here is in South Yarra, so we really want to personal this region.”

Present day minimalism

Created by DKO Architecture, the house functions open and clutter-cost-free layouts with smooth desks and open closets, reflecting the industrial warehouse model of South Melbourne.

Modern traditional finishes are utilized during together with natural stone tiling, textured timber, steel aspects, layers of drapery and brass accents.

Functioning in collaboration with DKO, Singh stated the team has brought to everyday living the main components of the AC style and design philosophy – a resort that has been thoughtfully built for the way of living traveller.

“Every detail of the encounter is meticulously in excess of-considered to create a seamless keep,” Singh explained.

“The style method to every single room is ideal ease and comfort and utility through to fashionable decor, with open layouts giving useful splendor without the need of distraction.

“The way of life traveller is hunting for all those truly intuitive model areas, and really intuitive company as nicely. The brand stating is, ‘We deliver anything they require and practically nothing they don’t.’”

Intuitive service

Between the concepts made to anticipate attendees every single need to have is ‘Borrow Me’, which makes it possible for visitors to borrow an merchandise that they may well have neglected to pack such as a charger or cufflinks.  

“We’ve got all the fundamental principles that you tend to fail to remember, but then we have also labored on a good deal of the other exciting points that you would appreciate to have when you go to a lodge,” Singh informed HM.

“You can borrow anything as from ties to cufflinks to a handbag or guitar. You can even borrow a peloton bike – we can set it up in the area.”

The hotel also gives about a dozen bicycles that visitors can borrow to do neighborhood trails.

Considering outside the box

The property’s food and beverage presenting is operate by Peter Rowland Group (PRG) – which is also powering retailer David Jones’ legendary Meals Halls. It consists of a Spanish-affected eating practical experience, Sorolla, a freestanding bar, Triana Bar, which offers views of the city skyline, and pool bar, Bar de Buceo, which also gives drinks and mild, alfresco style dining.

“The F&B giving is really distinctive. It is not your common club sandwiches. We want to pay back homage to our Spanish roots, so there is a large amount of that Spanish influence,” Singh mentioned.

AC by Marriott is a incredibly ‘gin-centric’ brand name and is operating carefully with nearby distillery Individual Wolf to style and design its personal gin, which is out there throughout the lodge and served in a custom glass by sculptural glass artist Adam Walmon.

“We’ve obtained these airline fashion carts – with shelves of gin, all mixtures of tonics, garnishes and glassware – that go all-around the resort each and every evening at 6pm providing a complimentary consume,” Singh described.

Wellness is one more critical element of the hotel supplying, with leisure facilities such as an outside infinity pool spanning the width of the setting up and a 24-hour health and fitness centre with the newest exercise technology. There are also peaceful spaces for attendees to mediate and physical exercise.

“We’ve bought this stunning balcony where by you can get a yoga mat to apply outside when the weather is attractive,” Singh said.

The residence has a wide range of meeting and celebration areas with ground-to-ceiling home windows and collaborative areas like the brand’s signature AC Lounge – a present day co-operating space by working day that transforms into a social hub supplying European-design and style tapas by night time.

This article was posted in the June edition of HM Magazine. Browse more right here.