Fragrance Group’s new Ibis Styles Hobart hotel reopens old city lane

HOBART’s newest hotel has opened up one of the city’s oldest streets to the public. SEE THE VIDEO

HOBART’S newest hotel has opened up one of the city’s oldest streets to the public.

Bold, bright and modern, the Ibis Styles Hobart on Macquarie St backs onto Collins St via Crowther’s Lane — an original laneway of Hobart.

General manager of the hotel Janine Livingston said she had no idea that Crowthers Lane existed “and here it is”.

Hobart residents will be able to use the lane – the walls of which are made from convict-hewn sandstone – to move between Collins and Macquarie streets and gain access to the Ibis restaurant and bar Mr Good Guy.

The laneway was previously accessed only by carpark users.

Mr Good Guy is open to the public without having to enter the hotel.

Crowthers Lane, which runs from the hotel’s restaurant to Collins St. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Ms Livingston described the hotel, right in the middle of the city centre, as a “modern contemporary building connected to a heritage area and a great asset for Hobart”.

Hutchinson Builders handed the site over to Ms Livingston and her team on Wednesday, but Ms Livingston has already been working behind the scenes for the past two months to prepare the hotel for its official opening on July 1.

Ms Livingston has worked for the past 10 years in the Best Western Hobart hotel, which was formerly branded as the Mercure.

Janine Livingston in the communal section of the restaurant. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

The new Accor Ibis Styles Hobart is the biggest hotel in Tasmania with 296 rooms and is directed at the Asian and domestic market, Ms Livingston said.

“Accor has been wanting to come back into the Hobart market for some time now,” she said.

“They know everyone wants to to come to Tasmania.”

Accor previously owned Hadleys and the Mercure.

The 25m rooftop lap pool. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Ms Livingston said the four-star hotel had been designed to attract customers more interested in the location than coming home to luxury digs.

“It’s economy style in the middle of the action with luxury touches including the lap pool [on the top floor],” she said.

“Even though it’s economy, we’re still a four-star rating — the high end of economy.”

Ibis Styles Hobart is the first of four Fragrance Group hotels planned for the city including controversial skyscrapers mooted for Davey and Collins streets.

The view from one of the rooms on the 10th floor. Picture: RICHARD JUPE