Inside the new $20m redesigned Novotel Sydney City Centre

A bold new $20 million refurbishment of a 283-room hotel has been unveiled in the heart of Sydney — and it has lofty ambitions.

A bold new $20 million refurbishment of a 283-room hotel has been unveiled in the heart of Sydney — and it has lofty ambitions.

The recently transformed building — the Novotel Sydney City Centre — on York Street is a short walk from the city’s most iconic destinations, including Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Pitt Street Mall.

It is also the first Australian Novotel hotel to present an innovative room from Novotel’s designers in Paris called ‘Hypothesis’, which centres around the ethos of creating a hotel with less waste – environmental, of course, but also decreasing wasted space and time.

According to the boffins behind the theory — the innovative design philosophy creates rooms and public spaces that move with guests.

The hotel has undergone a $20 million refurbishment.

It is in the heart of the city.

It means you can move many of the furnishings — like your coffee table for example — to where you want them to be in the room, allowing you to customise your stay.

Kim Stredder, General Manager of the hotel told news.com.au the massive refurbishment — which took place throughout 2023 — was done while guests were staying at the hotel.

The facelift embraces modern technology with complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, in-room digital compendiums and QR codes for access to hotel services and amenities, such as room service from the hotel’s restaurant and bar.

There’s some nice small touches like live plants in every room.

The rooms boast impressive city views.

Chromecast TVs can be found in all rooms allowing guests to stream their own content seamlessly, with Balcony and Suite rooms featuring eye-popping 75-inch TVs. It’s not the IMAX, but it’s pretty impressive for a hotel room.

If you’re like me and not in the mood to chat to anyone when you’re check in and out of a hotel, there’s good news because there’s also self-check-in kiosks in the lobby.

Ms Stredder also said the freshly-refurbished hotel is all about making families feel comfortable.

She said children up to the age of 16 stay for free when sharing a room with their parents and 33 rooms are interconnecting with King and Double Beds.

“Novotel is passionate about guests feeling relaxed during their Novotel experience, which includes not rushing the morning of check-out. That’s why on Sunday a late 5pm check-out is available for guests, which we know is a hit with families and tourists exploring the city or corporate travellers who need to continue working before an evening flight,” she said.

Every room has been fitted with QR code TVs.

One drawback is the lack of a pool, but there’s plenty to do on your doorstep.

The hotel’s makeover is not quite finished and there are some exciting new features coming for the new year.

This year will see the introduction of the Novotel Fitness Studio, offering guests seeking to maintain their fitness routines the incentive of accumulating points while cycling in the studio.

A “renowned” Chef will also be unveiled in January 2024 and there will even be a “Pillow Menu” launched in early 2024, which aims to ensure a personalised and comfortable night’s sleep.

For more information, visit the hotel’s website.

The writer travelled as a guest of Novotel.