The Parkroyal Hotel Darling Harbour, Sydney has undergone a multi-million dollar refurbishment over the past four months culminating in an official relaunch on February 19.  With a fresh, vibrant interior palette and the latest in hotel technology incorporated, the redesign will deliver an entirely new experience for guests.

The recent completion of the lobby is part of the second and final stage of a complete transformation of the hotel that has already taken in the guestrooms and a new club lounge for corporate travellers.  Internationally acclaimed designers Hassell were entrusted with the recreation of the iconic hotel which features a fresh and welcoming feel and the latest in hotel technology.

“It’s been extraordinary to watch the hotel be taken back to its basic architectural features and rebuilt from within,” says Craig Bond, Area General Manager – Oceania for the Pan Pacific Hotel Group. “Once the finishing touches are completed, guests will think they’ve stepped into an entirely different hotel. However the one thing we have retained is the amazing people that have kept the Parkroyal name synonymous with the highest levels of service.”

A residential theme permeates every facet of the hotel from the rooms to the lobby to the club lounge.  Bespoke furnishings and decorative touches throughout the rooms; the use of using timber flooring, accent rugs and sumptuous furnishings in the club lounge to make guests feel immediately at home;  a light-filled lobby featuring a large atrium – all these features add to the sense of inviting ambience, making the bustling city outside seem a world away.

As a part of the refurbishment, Parkroyal Darling Harbour, Sydney has incorporated the latest technological developments for hotel design and operations to enhance the guest experience and instantly make them feel at home.

The latest hotel communications systems allow key details such a guest’s preferred times for their room to be cleaned, special touches they like in their room and their ideal checkout times to be conveyed to relevant staff prior to their arrival. During their stay, a new energy management system will ensure that the room temperature is adjusted to the guest’s comfort whenever they are in the hotel while conserving energy when the room is unoccupied.

As an enhancement to guest security, an innovative room key card will be able to track guest movements internally, allowing staff to easily recognise whether a guest with messages or a package waiting has returned. The new card system can even alert staff when a guest has left the room door ajar so that necessary safety measures can be taken. The new technology will soon allow guests to use their smart phones as room keys that can be encoded automatically on arrival, allowing for a quicker check-in process – perfect for those weary from a long flight wanting to rejuvenate in their room as quickly as possible.

The final components of the second stage will see the restaurants and meeting spaces gutted and recreated entirely in time for an official relaunch of the hotel in February 2013.