Treehouse Hotels to open in $400m Market Square development

A “playful” Treehouse Hotel has been selected for part of the $400m Market Square development. See the pictures.

The $400m Market Square development will include a hotel, apartments, offices and revamped retail offering.

A “playful and fun” brand that “captures the nostalgia of childhood” has been selected to operate the hotel component of the $400m Market Square development.

Treehouse Hotels will open its first Australian location at the Central Market Arcade site following a competitive selection process undertaken by developer ICD Property and joint venture partner the Adelaide City Council.

The brand, which is part of the luxury SH Hotels & Resorts group, opened its first hotel in London in 2019, and has plans for more openings in Manchester, California, Miami and Riyadh.

Market Square is set to become the brand’s first location in Australia and will offer 248 rooms across 10 levels in the development's 39-storey tower.

It will also feature a restaurant and bar with outdoor seating, a street-front cafe showcasing local produce, more than 500sq m of indoor and outdoor event space and more than 230sq m of fitness and wellness facilities.

The hotel will form part of the 39-storey tower within the Market Square development.

Inside one of the Treehouse Hotel’s bathrooms.

SH Hotels & Resorts chief executive Raul Leal said the “original and upbeat lifestyle” hotel offering would complement other elements of the mixed-use development.

“We were drawn to the history and the energy of the Adelaide Central Market precinct and we are thrilled to be part of its exciting future,” he said.

“We believe this partnership will elevate both Market Square and the hospitality industry as a whole. Treehouse Hotel at Market Square will creatively capture the carefree comfort, freedom and nostalgia of childhood that appeals to all of us.”

Construction at the Market Square site commenced in June and the project will be delivered in stages. The commercial component and first-stage apartments are due for completion in 2025, ahead of the new retail offering and hotel in 2026.

Inside the dining area of a Treehouse Hotel in London.

Once completed the project will feature the hotel, 234 apartments, 21,700sq m of A-grade office space, a 11,000sq m-plus retail precinct and a 3000sq m elevated garden.

ICD Property deputy managing director Sal Quah said the hotel would also have a focus on sustainability.

“Treehouse Hotel will create a one-of-a-kind hotel experience for Adelaide that blends seamlessly with the lively atmosphere of Market Square,” he said.

“Our strategic partnership with Treehouse Hotels reflects our shared commitment to providing an exceptional guest experience while minimising environmental impact.

Inside Treehouse London – the brand’s first hotel.

The hotel will change Adelaide’s city skyline.

“Treehouse Hotel seamlessly harmonises with the diverse offerings of Market Square, creating a dynamic and convenient experience – guests can enjoy easy access to a vibrant retail scene, ensuring that everything they need is within reach, while visitors to the precinct will be able to enjoy the hotel’s restaurant and bar.”

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said the new hotel would “contribute to the economic vitality of the city, positioning Adelaide as the ultimate destination in Australia”.

The Treehouse Hotels brand is the brainchild of US billionaire Barry Sternlicht, whose private investment firm Starwood Capital Group is behind the SH Hotels & Resorts group.

The announcement of its first Australian location in Adelaide comes as hundreds of global hotel delegates descend on Sydney for this week’s Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific conference.