Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has gained five distinctive luxury properties, including two newly-restored heritage hotels, in its Australian property portfolio following a new strategic partnership with Salter Brothers Hospitality.
The additional properties include the newly rebranded Ardour Milton Park Bowral and Ardour Lilianfels Blue Mountains – both recently transformed through multi-million-dollar restorations – as well as Spicers Potts Point, Spicers Balfour Brisbane, and Spicers Peak Lodge.
The rebranded Ardour Milton Park Bowral, which occupies a 1910 grand country estate, opened in February this year with refined accommodation, a new dining concept, curated wellness experiences, and a destination day spa.
Sister property Ardour Lilianfels Blue Mountains, which traces back to 1889, is now a 89-room retreat that is inspired by grand English garden estates.
In Sydney, Spicers Potts Point offers a 20-room retreat within three meticulously restored Victorian terraces in one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.
Spicers Balfour Brisbane blends heritage charm with contemporary luxury, occupying a beautifully restored Queenslander overlooking the Story Bridge.
Completing the additions is Spicers Peak Lodge, an all-inclusive mountain retreat in the Scenic Rim, where just 12 suites offer an immersive luxury escape surrounded by World Heritage listed wilderness.
Mark Wong, senior vice president Asia Pacific, SLH, told TTG Asia that Australia is both a valuable source market and destination for the company.
Prior to the Salter Brothers partnership, SLH has just five hotel members in Australia.
He said: “Australia has been a top five source market for independent luxury travel as well as a key destination for SLH for many years. Intra-Asia travel remains very strong, and a lot of Indian and South-east Asian travellers are drawn to Australia. We are also starting to see an increase in Chinese travellers to Australia. At the same time, Australian domestic travel is rebuilding post-Covid. So, we know we must establish ourselves in the destination.”
Having a greater product presence in Australia will also familiarise more affluent Australian travellers with the SLH network, encouraging them to seek out an SLH member hotel when they travel overseas.
“This is an advertising advantage,” remarked Wong.
Tash Tobias, CEO of Salter Brothers Hospitality, stated in a press release that joining SLH “feels like a very natural step for us”.
“We’ve always believed in creating hotels defined by people, place and experience, and SLH reflects that same philosophy by bringing together a community of hotels with real character. We’re honoured to have been welcomed into such a considered collection,” said Tobias.
