By James Wilkinson
The Langham, Sydney’s luxury makeover has been set down for 2014.
When the property was purchased from Orient-Express in August 2012, Langham Hospitality Group CEO Brett Butcher said the hotel would undergo a significant makeover and SPICENEWS and sister publication HM can reveal that plans are underway to have a mock-up room in place before the end of 2013.
Set for an upgrade: The Langham Sydney
Speaking to SPICE and HM in Sydney last week, Langham Hospitality Group’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Simon Manning, said plans would be “unveiled before the end of the year” and “drawings are in from a few designers”.
While he would not elaborate on the specifics of the design, Manning said the company “wants to start the rooms next year and the public areas in 2015” and between AUD$10 and $20 million will be spent on the project.
All work is expected to be completed by 2015, which will also include a remodelling of the ground floor, which is presently home to the reception, bar, restaurant and meeting rooms.
“That’s all being fleshed out with the architects at the moment,” he said.
Manning did confirm Langham wants to “make the meeting room a little bit larger” and plans are in place to transform one of the food and beverage outlets into a Palm Court restaurant, the centrepiece of The Langham London’s F&B offering and one that serves up the British capital’s best high tea.
During the renovation, the hotel’s day spa will be converted into a Chuan Spa, in line with Langham Hotels globally, and the property will remain one of the few pet friendly hotels in Sydney.
Just last week, the hotel has begun upgrading beds in the rooms with the installation of Langham Blissful Beds, and to keep the pooches happy, a number of new doggy beds will also be available for guests’ pets.
Manning said once the makeover was complete, Langham is seeking rate growth at the property that would see the hotel sit just below Park Hyatt Sydney and above Four Seasons, Shangri-La and InterContinental in the competitive set.
“We want to position above the main market in Sydney,” he said.
The news comes at an exciting time for the company, with the Langham Place Fifth Avenue rebranding from The Setai Fifth Avenue in New York this month, and The Langham Chicago set to open on July 10. Also in July, the company’s owned Delta Chelsea, Canada’s largest hotel, will be re-branded as the Eaton Chelsea Toronto.
