Rydges is optimistic that bookings for its new four-star hotel at Sydney Airport's revamped international terminal will gather momentum as the $68 million property approaches its May opening date.
The opening of the 317-room hotel, originally scheduled for June, has been brought forward to May although the exact date is still to be confirmed, general manager Tish Nyar told Travel Today.
"We only opened up for bookings about a week or two ago, but the enquiry levels and the anticipation are quite strong," he said. The majority of enquiries so far have been generated by the Rydges website, he revealed, but he stressed the firm is keen to work with all channels to grow sales.
Nyar expects the majority of bookings expected to come in just two or three weeks prior to opening because the lead times for an airport hotel are "very short". As a result, it is difficult to gauge the client mix just yet.
"Because it is in really unique location, it will be interesting to see what the demand is," he said.
Travellers from Australia's regions, transiting in Sydney, are expected to make up a large portion of the hotel's guests. In addition, its seven small to medium conference rooms and two larger spaces expected to have strong appeal for the MICE market.
Meanwhile, the hotel is negotiating with "one or two of the key airlines" to package up overnight stays, particularly for early morning departures, with an announcement to be made in around three to four weeks.
A range of opening special rates will also be released in the coming months, although Nyar confirmed rooms will start from between $220 and $250 per night.
