Oakwood expands its global hospitality portfolio, opening Australia’s first Oakwood Premier property this October at 202 Normanby Road, Southbank, Melbourne. Pioneering the concept of serviced apartments for over 50 years now, Oakwood has established more than 80 properties globally, with Oakwood Premier Melbourne being the 10th Oakwood Premier property and first in Australia to open. This property is nothing like what the city currently offers, striking a fine balance between classic and contemporary design features. The impeccable facilities and thriving dining areas both have exquisite 360-degree views of Melbourne, overlooking Albert Park, Port Phillip Bay, the CBD and Williamstown, with each room bundling together luxury and comfort.
Catering primarily to executives and business travellers, guests will have access to innovative tech and communications devices in their rooms along with a newly launched room service feature to make their stay special. In addition to this, Oakwood Premier Melbourne showcases art installations and waterfall features in and around the property, which pay homage to key Melbourne landmarks. Ultimately, Oakwood Premier Melbourne completely transforms what consumers traditionally know to be included in standard serviced apartment stays, catering to guests of all ages and it is nothing short of impressive.
“Oakwood Premier Melbourne marks our return to Australia after five years since we debuted the Oakwood brand in the country with the opening of Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Brisbane in 2016. This second foray comes at an opportune time where serviced apartments have increasingly been recognised not just as an alternative to hotels but as a preferred accommodation both for leisure and business travellers. We are excited to introduce the Oakwood Premier brand in Australia,” says Dean Schreiber, chief executive officer, Oakwood.
THE PROPERTY
Developed by the team at Yarra Hotel Group, Oakwood Premier Melbourne is a brand new 40-storey building that has been in development since 2017. The building will showcase 392 rooms and serviced apartments alongside Sky Bar Melbourne, a rooftop bar with 360-degree views of the city. Staying true to Oakwood’s offering, this property caters to guests of all needs. 132 of the rooms have been designed for transient guests on short stays and the remaining 260 apartments are made up of studios, one and two-bedroom apartments for mid to long-term guests that range from 35 to 85 square metres in size.
Oakwood Premier Melbourne will also have an all-day dining restaurant, a premium bar in the lobby, state of the art indoor/outdoor fitness centre, three private meeting rooms, two large multipurpose function areas, a co-working space and a lounge and games centre fitted with modern entertainment for those seeking activities like as snooker or video games. Guests will also be able to relax outside and watch Melbourne thrive at either of the two outdoor lounge green oases on levels five and six.
Oakwood Melbourne Premier is a 4-minute walk to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, a 13-minute walk to the South Melbourne Market and only a 20-minute walk to Marvel Stadium for those attending the footy or concerts.
“We are in the final stretch of this four-year-long development of the property and are excited to welcome guests to Australia’s first Oakwood Premier here in Melbourne this October,” says Andrew Donadel, General Manager, Oakwood Premier Melbourne. “The location of Oakwood Premier Melbourne is so central, guests will have all of what Melbourne has to offer at their very doorstep. The features throughout the property are outstanding, catering to business travellers who will be in town for a while and require a well-appointed residence, as well as leisure guests who may be visiting for a local staycation or stopping by Melbourne briefly. The property exudes luxury and has been developed to pamper guests from the moment they arrive.
With everything that has happened over the past year, we’ve gone above and beyond to ensure that we have created a safe sanctuary, and guests can enjoy a stress-free stay with us. We look forward to opening our grand lobby doors in the coming months.”
DEVELOPMENT + DESIGN + INSPIRATION
Yarra Hotel Group pays credit to Hamilton Marino Builders for constructing Oakwood Premier Melbourne, CHT Architects for their design and SORA Interior Architecture + Design for contributing all interior features. Some impressive elements of the build include the double-height roofs within the Lobby area, the detailed fitness centre and the grand Sky Bar Melbourne located on level 40, with a mezzanine for private functions.
The building is 139 metres tall, using raked structural columns and a cantilevered design that allows the building to visually float. A varied chromaticity of grey and bronze shows on the façade of the building which is further enhanced by a considered illumination strategy that includes bespoke in-built lighting, transforming the appearance of the building at night.
“Oakwood Premier Melbourne is an ‘experience’ – a glistening beacon in Melbourne’s skyline that shifts from dark greys through to a shimmering bronze at the tower crown,” describes Mark Gifford, CHT Architects, Team Leader. “We have designed a contemporary and modern aesthetic, combining a sense of grandeur that is inherently suited to Melbourne’s culture. This new bronze glistening landmark will prove to deliver a memorable experience for all guests.”
The Lobby design is exceptional, hosting three oversized brass mesh chandelier installations that were constructed layer by layer and an outstanding commissioned art piece by the famous Mika Utzon Popov, grandson of Jorn Utzon who designed the Sydney Opera House. Popov’s tactile 3D vertical lobby piece was inspired by Melbourne’s famed Yarra River and provides an awe-inspiring entrance. A prelude to the entrance lies a waterfall wall feature along the driveway, which incorporates a pattern of the Yarra River from a bird’s-eye view, captivating visitors as they enter the Oakwood Premier Melbourne premises.
FUTURE THINKING & SUSTAINABILITY
Future thinking, sustainability and innovative technology have also played a large role in the development of Oakwood Premier Melbourne. Both staff and guests will have access to world-leading technologies in their rooms and around the property making communication easier than before. Not only will Oakwood Premier Melbourne live up to the standard of service its establishments are globally renowned for, but their housekeeping and management teams will be able to provide tailored service at the click of a button. In a time influenced so heavily by health regulations, Oakwood has innovated its services to include conveniences such as mobile room key access and an innovative ‘Oakwood Premier Mobile Bar Experience’, where a mixologist creates seasonal cocktails in the privacy of the guest’s apartment. A selection of canapés will also be included in the ‘Mobile Bar Experience’, with a rotating menu of hot and cold savouries or sweet treats to choose from. It’s these types of offerings that set Oakwood Premier Melbourne apart, encouraging guests to relax in their rooms, lounge in their robes and wind down after a busy day.
Further to this, a 23kW solar panel has been installed on the building to reduce the consumption of non-renewable electricity. In addition to an electric car charging station, all elevators have been
installed with an advanced ‘Destination Control System’, reducing the amount of energy and power the property will use moving people up and down the building.
SERVICE EXCELLENCE
At the beginning of 2020, Yarra Hotel Group partnered with Oakwood to operate the Southbank property, recognising the global brand’s stellar reputation for exceptional service and management of serviced apartments across the globe.
“The current climate of the hospitality industry across the world leads us to believe that operating under the Oakwood Premier brand would be an ideal fit for this development,” says Norman Khan, Managing Director at Yarra Hotel Group. “We know that Oakwood provides effortless excellence and considering the detail and luxurious features this property offers, this is set to be a perfect match. We are proud to be the first company to launch this iconic brand in Australia in one of the world’s great cities and cannot wait for guests to enjoy what this property has to offer.”
