There’s something charming about old hotels. They sit like grand dames in the bustling hearts of cities, their walls ingrained with stories and secrets of illustrious pasts. But even the most revered need to embrace a touch of modernity if they want to stay relevant and survive.
Unlike the Hyatt Regency Perth, which will close its doors on August 31 after 36 years, the Singapore-based owners of Pan Pacific Perth have taken a different approach — one they hope will pay off. Since May 2023, Pan Pacific Hotels Group has spent $50 million upgrading the Adelaide Terrace property that originally opened in 1973 as the Sheraton Hotel, before relaunching as Pan Pacific Perth in 2011. Once one of the Perth’s most prestigious 5-star hotels, there is no denying that the guest rooms started to look increasingly tired, especially when compared to the string of new luxury properties that opened their doors across our city in the past decade.
So, as the renovation nears completion later this year, I’ve been invited to attend a behind-the-scenes tour, where I’m getting a first look at its revamped areas. Describing the project as a “total gut refurbishment”, Pan Pacific Perth general manager Paul Flett says he is proud of what the team has achieved over the past 15 months, with the project now 95 per cent complete. “We’ve basically worked our way down, renovating each floor from top to bottom,” he says.
“We’ve upgraded all 390 guest rooms and suites and the redesign of.