Hotel Hotel sets an exceptional standard in hospitality and is a truly unique location for corporate events in Canberra, writes Emal Hakikat
Hotel Hotel sets itself apart in many ways, all of which come together to create a remarkably different yet impressive home to guests looking for something more than out of the ordinary. As the brainchild of the Molonglo Group, an artisan-led property development and creative production house, Hotel Hotel is a hotel rethought both in terms of what it is, how it is made and, therefore, what it does.
It comprises 68 rooms, each of which is dressed with salvaged and restored 20th century Australian furniture, original artworks stockpiled over 10 years, objects collected from different time periods, and artisan-made furnishings. The beds are created from reclaimed oak, and the walls are a mix of concrete, cork, earthen clay, and natural fibre wallpapers. It is a quintessentially Australian vernacular expressed through raw materials, a reimagining of the textures and layers of an Australian shack and landscape. There are many nice touches for guests who are so inclined, from Aesop amenities through to heated bathroom floors.
Half of the rooms look out of their opening hardwood windows onto the lake or bush; and half onto the internal atrium populated with ferns from Tasmanian forests destined for clearance. The hotel’s public lounge is a series of nested spaces made of woven rough-formed concrete structural lintels. The lounge houses the reception and concierge; a library stocked with small press and vintage books; two large fireplaces for people to colonise; and the Monster Kitchen and Bar with its Mosaic Room, salon room and dining room.
“Hotel Hotel is a hotel rethought both in terms of what it is, how it is made and, therefore, what it does”
The Mosaic Room is one of several event spaces in Hotel Hotel. The room is essentially an extension of Hotel Hotel’s main lobby bar and lounge area and offers privacy, a soaring ceiling flooded with natural light, and a contemporary feel. Other unique event options include the Kendall Lane Theatre – a fully equipped theatrette that is ideal for business seminars, film screenings and product launches – as well as The Nishi Gallery, which comes with garden views, high ceilings and raw industrial finishes, and the exhibited artworks of local artists – which make for a calming and quirky backdrop for all types of events. The hotel’s gardens feature two beautiful Chinese elm trees, red yuccas, ornamental pear trees and Mexican lilies, and are accessed via the gallery’s sliding door and can be included in venue hire (the space even has a kitchenette).
Hotel Hotel sits in the environmentally thoughtful pineapple-shaped Nishi building within Canberra’s arts and culture precinct, NewActon. It is only 10 minutes by car to the airport and a two-minute walk to the city. If you’re visiting Canberra and looking for an exemplary example of hospitality or a truly unique location for a conference or event, try Hotel Hotel.
For more information call 02 6287 6287, email hello@hotel-hotel.com.au or visit hotel-hotel.com.au. Images: supplied
