Glebe’s flagship hotel, The Haven Inn, is set to close its doors and reopen in early 2015.
Since being sold for $13.5million in July this year, the hotel’s new owners, a private Chinese group, have signalled their intent to reinvigorate the iconic local hotel and unveil it early in the New Year as a fully renovated, 4-star Best Western-affiliated hotel.
Raymond Tran, of Colliers International’s Hotels division, represented the buyer in the transaction. He said the new owners, who have also appointed Colliers International to manage the asset, have ambitious plans for the property.
“We are seeing increased interest from high net wealth Chinese investors aspiring to enter Australia’s hotel market,” said Mr Tran.
“Whilst proficient hoteliers in China, these purchasers readily recognise that Australian hotels are a different scenario and require local expertise.
“Although they intend to act as owner-operators of this new-look hotel in Glebe, these purchasers were adamant they would employ local hotel management, local builders and local staff to ensure Australian specialists were in place.”
Barry Fleischmann, General Manager of Brand Development for Best Western Australasia said the new owners chose to join Best Western to gain international recognition.
“Best Western is a brand widely recognised and trusted by both Chinese and Australian holiday-makers, which was an integral factor in the owners’ decision,” he said.
The hotel will incorporate modern design, with the renovation to be overseen by builders ICMG.
Chelvie Lee, National Manager for Hotels & Hospitality at ICMG, said: “The hotel will cater to Glebe’s youthful demographic and embrace the vibrant local café-restaurant scene. With the growing student population in the area and several local universities nearby, it makes sense for the hotel to be designed with this in mind.”
The refurbishment will include a new restaurant, a state-of-the-art gymnasium facing onto a Zen courtyard, a new lobby and lifts, a makeover of the external façade and complete refurbishment of the 59 hotel rooms. The new-look hotel plans to reopen its doors before the 2015 Chinese New Year.
“A current undersupply of accommodation rooms in the Sydney hotel market is driving demand for all types of hotel properties across the metropolitan area and, while not in an immediate CBD area, this new offering in Glebe will assist with the shortage,” Mr Tran said.
“The hotel sits perfectly outside the city’s new alcohol curfew boundaries and is poised to capitalise with its new retail frontage onto Glebe Point Road.”
