Chinese Hotel Developer Helps Launch Sydney's Newest Luxury Hotel

Developer Shanghai United has officially announced AccorHotels as the partner for its new landmark luxury hotel, The Porter House Hotel, MGallery by Sofitel.

Located on the corner block of 110-118 Bathurst and 203 Castlereagh Streets, near Hyde Park, Shanghai United purchased the site in November 2016 for $130m and planned to launch a $380 million mixed-use residential development directly above the hotel, which will comprise of 130 premium apartments.

The Porter House Hotel will be Shanghai United's  first overseas 5-star luxury hotel venture.

Shanghai United CEO Xu Yangdong and AccorHotels Chief Operating Officer Pacific Simon McGrath welcomed the venture and agreed the hotel was set to become one of the most impressive landmark developments in Sydney city.

“This project marks a new area of luxury hotel and high-end apartments in the Sydney CBD area,” Mr Xu said.

“With service contents delivered by the MGallery by Sofitel, Shanghai United will provide residents and guests an extraordinary array of amenities to enjoy.”

“The Sydney hotel sector is the strongest in Australia with consistent occupancy levels in the mid-high 80% range and average rates growing
sharply," Mr McGrath said.

"This new MGallery by Sofitel hotel will stand to greatly benefit from the tourism and infrastructure boom we are currently seeing in Sydney, and provide both business and leisure travellers with a new luxury hotel experience whether they visit for conferences, events, cultural or sporting events."Designed by Candelapas & Associates architects, The Porter House Hotel will feature a sculptural, arched façade and a robust, rich palette of materials to the celebrated building’s existing fabric. Heritage aspects will be intertwined with fresh contemporary materials and accents.

The design will interweave the heritage-listed Porter House with a new residential development – Castle Residence Apartments – alongside the luxury boutique hotel to create a unique character for the city. It will aim to incorporate the history, heart and soul of the iconic building into its guest experience, enhanced and complimented by stylish and individual furniture, artwork and accessories.

The 121 guest rooms and suites in the new tower will be made up of stitched rich leathers, bronze glass round showers, polished metal accents, timber and heritage-inspired decorative tiles.

The hotel will also feature a pool and fitness centre, two restaurants, a fourth floor bar with roving art gallery, meeting and private dining facilities and a business centre. Valet parking will also be provided for all cars.

Shanghai United has developed more than 1,000 properties in China, spanning across nearly 30 cities in over 20 years, with the company’s assets totalling close to 100 billion yuan. The group currently has six further Chinese projects in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Hainan and Shangdong.

Construction on The Porter House Hotel, MGallery by Sofitel will commence in early 2018 with completion expected in November 2020.