Accor to open its first Movenpick-branded hotel in Australia in Hobart’s Elizabeth bus mall

Hobart is set to be home to an Australian-first premium hotel brand after the management of a soon-to-be-completed hotel changed hands.

The soon to be Movenpick hotel under construction in Elizabeth St, Hobart. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

HOBART is set to become home to an Australian-first premium hotel brand.

The hotel being built in the Elizabeth Bus Mall was going to be known as the Hyatt Centric Hobart after an announcement in January 2017.

It would have been the first Hyatt Centric hotel to open in Australasia.

But the Mercury understands the property management has since passed from Hyatt to Accor, which will operate the hotel under its premium Movenpick branding, which would be the first of its kind in Australia.

The Movenpick brand sits alongside a suite of other premium Accor hotels such as Pullman, Swissotel, Grand Mercure, Peppers and Sebel.

The Australian Institute of Builders Tasmanian chapter had a tour of the development site for its end of year function on Tuesday night.

President Claire Vervaart posted on social media that the hotel was due to open by April.

“We had the privilege of a guided tour of the Accor Group Mövenpick Hotel on Elizabeth St to wrap up the year,” she wrote.

“This project has had to overcome significant challenges – an active bus transit mall to the front and occupied buildings either side and an active laneway to the rear, along with narrow limited access to the site itself.

“The project is progressing well, with handover due by Easter 2020. We were able to view a prototype room and various stages of fit-out across different floors, taking in the impressive views of the waterfront from the 17th floor.”

Accor’s communications manager for the Pacific, Rebecca Astier, said the company was unable to comment.

Hyatt was also contacted for comment.

Originally known as the Palace Hotel development, the building was approved by the Hobart City Council in 2016 after 10m in height was removed from the original 73m plan to gain council approval.

Even after the reduction, at 63m, it will still be among Hobart’s tallest buildings.