PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney reopened in February after an A$20 million (US$20.5 million) rejuvenation that gave it new interiors and the latest in hotel technology.
Acclaimed design firm Hassell employed a bright palette of natural and earthy shades and textures, inspired by the Australian landscape, for the 340-key hotel’s new look.
The new interiors extend from the hotel’s lobby to guestrooms and five meeting rooms. The event spaces, which were gutted and recreated, now feature state-of-the-art technology and are supported by an in-house staging and event service. Blackwattle Room is the largest event space in the hotel, capable of hosting 200 banquet guests or 280 cocktail-style. It is adjacent to a spacious pre-function space that overlooks Darling Harbour.
There is also a new club lounge on the top floor, as well as rejuvenated dining establishments.
Meanwhile, new technology systems installed in the hotel allows guest preferences, such as their ideal check-out time, to be conveyed to relevant staff ahead of their arrival. Room keys are able to track guest movements so that staff can be alerted if a guest with messages or a package waiting has just returned, or if they are leaving the hotel and their room door has been left ajar.
The hotel is looking to streamline the check-in process further by encoding smartphones as room keys.
