CHALLENGE

After purchasing 11 hotel assets from Mirvac & NRMA in a high-profile $620m deal, Salter Brothers engaged WMK to undertake the design to refurbish 9 of the properties – 8 x Mercure hotels around Australia and the Ibis Styles Sydney Central in inner-city Surry Hills. Mercure locations include Bankstown, Blacktown, Macquarie Park, Manly and Newcastle in Sydney, Southbank in Melbourne and Hay St in Perth.

Incorporating the front of house, food & beverage, conferencing and event spaces and guest rooms, the brief was to deploy Salter Brothers value-add strategy by delivering a tech-enabled streamlined guest experience while achieving maximum ESG impact and working to a tight budget and timeline.

SOLUTION

WMK worked with the existing building fabric, minimising any structural changes and instead focusing on layout and aesthetics that would deliver the most “bang for buck.”

A ‘master design template’ was set out to ensure connection and consistency with the Mercure brand, including FF&E, joinery details, lighting and branding at each property.

Each design incorporates variations that draw inspiration from the local precinct and landmarks, translating this into unique artworks, colour palettes and textures.

Self check-in kiosks were introduced into lobby spaces, with new grab n go F&B offerings incorporated into service desks to add value to the customer experience and increase revenue generating opportunities.

OUTCOME

WMK’s design reinvigorated the F&B areas that are front and centre at each site. The warm and welcoming social hubs are both functional and flexible, featuring QR codes for menus and ordering and at some locations, outdoor dining.

Guest rooms were also upgrade while maintaining a sustainable approach. Reusing or repurposing furniture and a ‘light touch’ approach to walls, fixtures and fittings meant maximum impact could be achieved in shorter time frames and for lower costs.

These refurbishments have given new life to the existing hotels, enhancing guest experiences, aligning the ever-evolving customer needs and enforcing a focus on ensuring sustainability is at the core.