IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened its first new-build voco property in Australia, voco Melbourne Central.
For planners, eight light-filled event spaces seat up to 90 people for intimate settings. Located across three floors and spanning 493m2 is a choice of pool terrace, boardroom, medium event spaces and a flexible three-in-one space with breakout rooms – all with natural daylight and city views.
There are 252 rooms in total, all of which are equipped with free Wi-Fi and Smart TVs.
Sustainability is also practised here. Starting with the guestrooms, voco’s bedding is made from 100 per cent recycled materials, while the linen produced in line with the Better Cotton Initiative supports sustainable cotton harvesting. To date, the initiative has equated to over half a million bottles that have been recycled to make voco bedding across the hotels.
Other sustainable elements throughout the property includes a herb garden on the seventh-floor terrace, locally sourced ingredients on the menu, pottery and porcelain from local makers, a lighting system that responds to the natural cycle of light, and biodegradable straws.
Facilities on-site include a rooftop plunge pool and 24/7 gym, alongside two F&B options.
In a nod to voco Melbourne Central’s location as the home of the Cobb & Co stables, which originated during Victoria’s gold rush period in the 1800s, the restaurant has been named Blacksmith Brasserie & Bar. The restaurant’s open-plan kitchen serves up lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, and breakfast daily.
Meanwhile, Blacksmith Brasserie overlooks an outdoor terrace, with seven-metre-high ceilings accentuated by 180-degree vistas of the sky and city rooftops, a mix of casual and informal seating, and outdoor dining space.
Led by South Korean executive chef Ian Lee, Blacksmith Brasserie features classic dishes such as beef brisket tacos, barramundi parcel and a mizuna yuzu salad with crispy cheese chips.
