8 new hotel openings in 2021

• Opened: December 2021
• Suites: 40

Tucked into the canopy of the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest is the new-look Silky Oaks Lodge, one of the Luxury Lodges of Australia. Just an hour’s drive north of Cairns and set on 32 hectares (80 acres) overlooking the Mossman River, this 40-suite sanctuary has recently undergone a multi-million-dollar refurbishment. The refreshed treehouse suites are adorned with Indigenous artworks and Australian designed furnishings, and there’s a revitalised pool and riverbank area with firepit and open-sided pavilion that suits cocktail functions for up to 60 guests. For private dining, the Kubirri Lounge can accommodate 12 guests or planners can book exclusive use of the fine dining Treehouse Restaurant for up to 82 guests. 

• Opened: December 2021
• Rooms: 152

Marriott International debuted The Luxury Collection in Australia with the opening of The Tasman in Hobart. The hotel boasts 152 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and seven sophisticated meeting spaces, including ‘Parco’ which can accommodate up to 400 guests for a cocktail function, ‘The Private Dining Room’ which seats 24 people and ‘Cumulo’ which has floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace overlooking St David’s Park. Embracing the character of its locale – including a reimagined old-world cocktail bar – The Tasman integrates seamlessly with Hobart's history and culture, and makes an excellent base for a Hobart incentive program.

• Opened: December 2021
• Rooms: 88

Aiden Darling Harbour is the newest luxury boutique hotel to open in Pyrmont, Sydney. The cleverly remodelled 1930s Art Deco building was constructed using various recycled materials, keeping the original heritage features intact. Each room features a unique hand-painted floral wall mural above the bedhead, refillable luxury bathroom amenities, glass water bottles, and eco-friendly laundry bags and slippers. Sustainability is key, with the onsite café and bar using biodegradable packaging wherever possible. Although there are no meeting spaces on site, the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) is just a 10-minute stroll away, along Darling Harbour’s waterfront.

• Opened: November 2021
• Rooms: 172

Accor opened its second Mövenpick hotel in Australia in late 2021. Located adjacent to Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station and the vibrant Docklands business precinct, Mövenpick on Spencer’s stylish rooms and suites cover the first six floors of the city’s iconic Premier Tower. An ode to Melbourne's vibrant arts scene, the hotel showcases a collection of works from Melbourne's best photographers and has meeting space for up to 150 guests. Popular onsite eatery Miss Mi Restaurant & Bar can be booked exclusively, taking up to 86 guests on a culinary journey across Asia with a Melbourne twist, before they indulge in Mövenpick's famous daily 'Chocolate Hour'.

• Opened: November 2021
• Rooms: 251

Positioned in the heart of Adelaide, just footsteps from the River Torrens and Light Square, Sofitel Adelaide is the city’s newest 5-star luxury hotel. The hotel features 251 spacious rooms and suites combining French elegance and vintage decor with views overlooking the Adelaide skyline. The hotel has an indoor pool and gym, a vibrant French inspired restaurant and bar - Garcon Bleu - which accommodates up to 103 people cocktail-style, as well as six intimate meeting spaces which can be combined to form ‘Symphony’ – one united space that seats up to 70 guests banquet style and 90 for cocktails.

• Opened: September 2021
• Rooms: 189

In the waterfront luxury lifestyle precinct of New Quay in Melbourne’s Docklands, Marriott’s new property is the first five-star hotel in the suburb. It’s also Marriott’s first new build in Australia in 20 years, and no two rooms are alike; each located on a different aspect of the hotel's curved facade. The architecture and design dips its hat to the city’s gold rush heritage and sophistication, and the hotel boasts an infinity pool and a rooftop bar which can host up to 80 guests for a cocktail function. The hotel also offers 345 sqm (3,713 sq. ft) of flexible event space across five rooms, the largest catering for up to 200 people standing. 

• Opened: August 2021
• Suites: 14

The highly anticipated Sequoia in the Adelaide Hills opened in late 2021 and features 14 sustainably designed suites each with a sunken lounge, expansive balcony with daybed and large bathtub with panoramic valley views. Available for exclusive use, the lodge is completely private but forms part of the leafy, 30-acre Mount Lofty Estate. This means groups can enjoy the benefits of the historic Mount Lofty House event spaces, 170-year-old wine cellar, chef-hatted Hardy’s Verandah restaurant and the beautifully appointed day spa. 

• Opened: July 2021
• Rooms: 166 

Sustainably led hospitality company, Crystalbrook Collection, has launched Crystalbrook Vincent in the heart of Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves. Formerly the Fantauzzo, the five-star hotel has embraced Crystalbrook's 'Responsible Luxury' philosophy, boasting a single-use plastic-free environment, sustainable amenities and a 90% reduction in paper. There are three meeting and event spaces which can accommodate up to 200 guests standing as well as two in-house restaurants, Fiume and Polpetta, which have a capacity of up to 150 and 80 people seated, respectively. Both venues can be exclusively booked.