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 the the hotel’s lobby, conference ballrooms and meeting rooms are almost done.” Mr Flett adds that construction is underway on the exclusive Pacific Club Lounge on level seven, and the Presidential Suite on level 23. The multi-million dollar transformation will also include an updated porte cochere — a fancy term to describe the driveway at the hotel’s entrance.
In addition to the extensive physical renovations, the hotel is introducing a series of new guest experiences that Mr Flett says will embody the group’s brand positioning of “Graceful Luxury”. “As a company we’ve had a lot of discussions around how to define what our Pan Pacific brand is,” he says. “What we’ve come up with is that ‘Graceful Luxury’ best represents our identity.
” This means guests can now look forward to niceties such as a refreshing sparkling wine cocktail upon arrival every Friday afternoon, and complimentary house-made chocolates for those staying in premier rooms and suites. Willie Creek Pearls has been recruited as the hotel’s official jewellery partner and will give guests the opportunity to harvest their own Australian South Sea cultured pearls. What I like is that the hotel’s design brief celebrates the diverse natural beauty of Western Australia through colour, texture and design.
It also features subtle design details like slatted timber screens and tropical wallpaper with gigantic banana leaves, which I’m told are a nod to Pan Pacific’s Asian heritage. And finally, while the signature restaurants and bars such as the award-winning UMA, plus Mas Vino Wine Bar and Hill Street Bar, aren’t going anywhere, they will be spruced up to bring them in line with the rest of the hotel’s revamped interior..
