New Sydney boutique hotel opens in surprising location

Times change.

A couple of decades ago the area bordering inner city Sydney suburbs of Redfern and Surry Hills was best avoided. 

There were only a few reasons to visit the badlands off Cleveland Street: to eat some great Lebanese food, buy an illicit wrap or two, find a lady of the night, or perhaps get into a fight.

But gentrification happened and now the area around Wunderlich Lane is home to restaurants, bars and, as of today, a new luxe hotel.

Independently owned by TOGA and operated by TFE Hotels, the EVE Hotel Sydney opened its doors today.

It is set among a labyrinth of lively laneways connecting Surry Hills and Redfern and boasts a 20-metre rooftop pool..

Designed by Surry Hills-based architects SJB (with styling collaboration from Bates Smart), the city's newest 102-room boutique hotel is part of Sydney's newest lifestyle precinct, Wunderlich Lane, set on the site of Sydney’s original Wunderlich Ltd factory, which made terracotta roof tiles.

 
The precinct’s inner-city laneways will feature boutique shopping, al fresco dining and design-led commercial and event spaces.

“We have a prominent address at the crossroads of Surry Hills and Redfern and a location full of rich history,” said TOGA Group managing director and TFE Hotels chairman Allan Vidor.

“And our team are looking forward to sharing our version of Sydney hospitality.”

"By design, The EVE’s pre-opening team has aimed to create spaces where guests and visitors can immerse themselves in the art, cultural, and culinary offerings from the local community,"

See https://theevehotel.com.au/.

Landmark Sydney hotel to get a major makeover

The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth - which was once Sydney's first "grand" hotel - is to be given a major makeover.

Recently acquired by a fund managed by global investment firm KKR in strategic partnership with Futuro Capital and Marprop Real Estate Investors, the hotel's $60 million refurb is scheduled to commence in January and be completed by spring 2024.

With a storied history spanning over half a century, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has been a feature of Sydney's urban landscape since its inception as the Wentworth Hotel in 1966. It was later called the Sheraton Wentworth. 

The Wentworth was Sydney's first five-star international hotel and encapsulated the essence of 1960s and 70s jet-set glamour as Sydney first emerged as a global destination.

“We are excited to reignite and add layers to the history of this landmark hotel," said hotel GM Sam Panetta.

"The repositioning of the Sofitel will enhance the luxury services on offer and reinforce the value of the brand.”

Led by architecture and interior design firm Fender Katsalidis - which also designed Sydney's MONA and the landmark Levantine Hill in the Yarra Valley - the refurbishment of the heritage-listed property includes a comprehensive redesign of all 436 guest rooms and suites, corridors, club lounge and lobby areas.

Key to the refurbishment is the introduction of a completely new world-class dining precinct, including new restaurants and bars.

Karen Morris, associate principal for Fender Katsalidis, says: “We are honoured to be a part of the refurbishment of the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, an iconic landmark on the Sydney skyline.


"Our design vision is to revitalise the guest experience while preserving the hotel's rich cultural and social heritage, re-establishing its position as a luxury hotel destination. We are excited to be part of this city-shaping project that will breathe new life and vibrancy into this part of Sydney.”

Monkey business very important for one luxury resort

A luxury hotel in Vietnam is doing its bit to help ensure the survival of a critically endangered species of primates.

InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, a five-star resort on the Son Tra Peninsula, has installedg three brand-new “monkey bridges” – man-made bamboo and rope structures - that help the resident population of red-shanked douc langurs travel safely around the resort to access their favourite feeding grounds.

Famed for their striking scarlet legs and white beards, red-shanked douc langurs are one of the rarest primates on Earth – classified as “critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Only around 2,000 remain in the wild in Vietnam, 1,500 of which are thought to live in the jungles of the Son Tra Peninsula, where they love to eat the young leaves of tropical almond trees. They occasionally get on the ground to drink water or eat dirt. 

The InterContinental Danang is determined to protect its charming tree-dwelling friends.

Five families of red-shanked douc langurs are known to reside within the grounds of this 39-hectare resort, each with between five and 20 members.

To help the communities thrive, InterContinental Danang is creating a network of bridges and ladders that let these arboreal animals move freely through the forest canopy, their preferred habitat.

The new monkey bridges joined two already in place, providing these colourful creatures with safe, stress-free passages through the forest.

August and September are usually the months when baby red-shanked douc langurs are born, so the new bridges have been completed at a crucial time. More bridges are being planned in future.

“At InterContinental Danang, we understand that we have a responsibility to preserve the precious ecosystems of the Son Tra Peninsula," said general manager Seif Hamdy.

"One of the best ways to help protect the red-shanked douc langurs is to keep their migration routes open. Our monkey bridges act like aerial highways, letting them live, feed and breed in complete peace and safety.

"The bridges are not only used by red-shanked douc langurs, however; other native species such as macaques, squirrels and even civets have been seen using them, which shows how beneficial they are to our wildlife.”

See www.danang.intercontinental.com.