Thrifty Tune hotels land in Australia

A BUDGET accommodation chain that charges extra for toiletries and towels is opening in Australia.

Tune Hotel Melbourne staff Hannah Orchard and Diogo Nakano. Picture: Stuart Walmsley

SOMETIMES less really is more.

At least that's the approach of Tune Hotels, the newest player on Australia's hospitality scene.

Tune Hotel Melbourne in Swanston Street, Carlton. Picture: Stuart Walmsley

Embodying a minimalist philosophy, the Malaysian hotel chain's first foray into the Australian market pioneers a pay-as-you-use scheme.

The basic double room includes a bed, small bathroom and air conditioning in the standard price, between $65 and $100, but extras such as towels, toiletries, cable TV and Wi-Fi will incur an $11 surcharge as part of a comfort package.

Individual extras can also be bought separately.

Tune Hotels CEO Mark Lankester said the days of hotel businesses dictating the needs of the customer are over, with the low-cost hotel chain expecting to shake up the Australian hospitality market by accommodating consumer demands, or lack thereof.

"The world is changing, and the needs and wants of customers are changing, so it's important to be mindful of that," Mr Lankester said at the chain's Melbourne launch on Thursday.

"And so far the consumers are voting with their pocket books and are saying 'yes, please'."

Tune Hotels plans to have four to five hotels launched in Australia within the next five years, with that number expected to grow to 20 by 2021.

The flagship Melbourne property is set to open on October 21.