Inside the luxury overhauls on Adelaide’s Covid hotels

Re-branded as medi-hotels when they became taxpayer-funded makeshift quarantine facilities, these top end Adelaide towers are pricey overhauls.

Two former Adelaide CBD medi-hotels are undergoing multimillion-dollar refurbishments as occupancy rates boom as pandemic restrictions ease.

The Peppers Hotel, on Waymouth St, and the Playford Hotel on North Tce, which were used in the state’s taxpayer-funded Covid-19 quarantine program, will reopen later this year after major renovations.

Peppers will relaunch in July with two new luxury superior suites and two dedicated family rooms among its 202 “refreshed” rooms.

The hotel is also adding a new concept restaurant featuring an open kitchen and wine cellar to its ground floor, plus a high-end private dining room.

Peppers general manager Victor Faisca said plans to refurbish the hotel began pre-Covid-19 but were put on hold to assist the state government.

Peppers Hotel on Waymouth St is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation before re-opening in July.

Peppers Hotel on Waymouth St is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation before re-opening in July.

Peppers Hotel on Waymouth St is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation before re-opening in July.

Peppers Hotel on Waymouth St is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation before re-opening in July.

“This investment builds on our reputation for providing world-class experiences and excellent personal guest service in the heart of the city,” he said.

“We are incredibly proud of our team and what they have achieved over the past two years, and we will soon have a wonderful new offering to showcase to our loyal guests.”

The Playford Hotel’s $20m renovation includes a “vibrant” new restaurant and bar, reinvented conference rooms and 182 new rooms. The restaurant and bar will be launched in August, with some of the rooms ready by September.

Playford general manager Maurits de Graeff said the revamped hotel would be “simply stunning”.

Artist's impressions of The Playford Hotel's $20m renovation due.

Artist's impressions of The Playford Hotel's $20m renovation due.

Artist's impressions of The Playford Hotel's $20m renovation due.

“We are delighted to have return to normal operating business and the guest feedback already have been incredible,” he said. “We look forward to showcase our new product to the public.”

Another former medi-hotel, the Grand Chancellor, on Hindley St, has already returned to normal accommodation services, having completed a multimillion-dollar renovation just prior to Covid-19.

“It’s business as usual … we are just doing soft refurbishments to bring the hotel back to pre-medi hotel level,” said a spokesman, who described the current hotel market as “strong”.

Australian Hotels Association SA boss Ian Horne said hotel occupancy rates during May were above 80 per cent from Thursday-Saturday and about 70 per cent the rest of the week.

“It’s still great news for what is normally the start of the slow down due to winter,” he said.

“Medi hotels returning to the market is great for travellers and consumers but particularly for staff who have borne the brunt of restrictions and lockdowns.”

There was an average of 7819 rooms occupied nightly in Adelaide during April – the third highest month of bookings on record, the latest data from the South Australian Tourism Commission revealed.

SA Health data shows over almost two years, 36,000 travellers from 110 countries, and thousands more Covid patients or close contacts, stayed in Adelaide’s eight medi-hotels.

Once Australia’s hard international borders reopened in early March, authorities kept only the Pullman, on Hindmarsh Square, and Tom’s Court, King William St, as official quarantine facilities. The Pullman will reopen to hotel guests from June 1.