Sensational-Adelaide.com

Holiday Inn Express to boost laneways tourism

RICHARD EVANS, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, The Advertiser

July 11, 2017

ADELAIDE’S newest city centre hotel is set to further change the atmosphere and attractiveness of the area leading from the Riverbank to the Central Market.

The new build - called the Holiday Inn Express, which has a mid-August opening date, will be a nine-level, 245-room hotel.

Despite its Hindley St facade, the entrance will be on Blyth St and will add to the laneway culture epitomised by the nearby Leigh and Peel Streets and help feed Riverbank and Adelaide Oval tourism, said CBRE’s Julie Thomas.

The development will features four new retail/bar and dining opportunities, said Ms Thomas, who is seeking a flagship tenant for the first floor tenancy that will allow patrons to sit among, yet above, the hustle of Hindley St.

“With one of the sites already leased by CBRE to hip coffee bar Bean Bros following its Rundle St success, three remaining tenancies remain for lease,” she said.

“The jewel of this development is the balcony bar/restaurant opportunity, which provides 192sq m over ground and first floors, and features a 60sq m glass balustrade balcony, offering an elevated position over Hindley Street..”

Two two other tenancies are available to lease, a 91sq m ground floor tenancy fronting Hindley street, and a 89.5sq m tenancy next to the hotel’s Blyth St entrance..

“The laneway will benefit greatly from the increased lighting, street art, lobby and general activity around the hotel.,” she said. “Blyth St could be the next laneway to watch out for.”

Executive director of the Property Council (SA), Daniel Gannon, said increased hotel capacity it helps the expanded Adelaide Convention Centre in its bid to attract bigger events, which will mean more investment coming into SA.

“Recognised international hotel chains are particularly important in the eyes of Asian visitors, who are fuelling an Australian tourism boom, and SA is no exception,” he said.

“SA’s growing reputation as a hub for biomedical research means the west end of the city is gaining strong interest from investors, with sites like this an obvious beneficiary.”

Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese said that CBD quality hotels accommodate thousands of visitors each year.

“Every dollar these visitors spend helps create local jobs and helps our economy to grow,” he said.