A major design and guest experience transformation is breathing new life into one of EVT’s longest-standing Rydges properties.

Rydges North Sydney, which was acquired from EVT by High Street Holdings on behalf of Singapore’s Jaleel Family in 2022, has held the Rydges badge for more than three decades.

Now, as the finishing touches are being made on a complete refurbishment across all rooms, dining, conferencing, and communal areas, EVT is ushering in a new chapter under its management.

“This was one of EVT’s first hotels – it has been a Rydges for 30+ years,” EVT’s Group General Manager for Rydges Hotels, Troy Cuthbertson, told HM exclusively.

“As part of that change of ownership, there was a commitment to refurbish the hotel, and we’re in the final stages of that now.

“We’ re really excited about what the owners have done. It really complements Rydges’ new brand direction – it’s an elevated experience.”

The transformation was led by Reward Group, with DTE enlisted as interior designers and Janet Graham for public area styling.

With neutral colours, industrial-style fittings, open spaces and modern artwork, Rydges North Sydney is the latest to embrace the refreshed brand positioning of ‘refreshingly local’, following on from the launch of an impressive flagship Rydges hotel in Melbourne last year.

With 10 room types across 168 keys, including one- and two-bedroom apartment-style rooms, family rooms with bunk beds and a Penthouse Suite with views of Sydney Harbour, the new offering intends to appeal to a variety of travellers.

“It’s about being flexible and being open to as many markets as possible without saturating our rooms mix,” Cuthbertson said.

“It’s not only the product, it’s the customer journey and the experience that goes with that,” Cuthbertson said.

“Corporate guests are still looking for that element of leisure. When I’m traveling for work, I still want to have a great experience. I want it to be much more than just a comfortable bed and a hot shower, and to be able to do all the things I would at home – exercise, wellbeing practices, healthy eating.

“The modern food and beverage offering, the fitness studio facilities, they are all part of that.”

A fresh focus on technology at the hotel sees the addition of digital check-in/check-out kiosks and wireless charging stations in guest rooms.

“Rydges Melbourne was a test case to explore the full potential of digital check-in kiosks and the customer interaction with those,” Cuthbertson said.

“They’ve been great for the hotel. The purpose is not to reduce manning at all, it’s redeploying those people that normally standing behind the desk to stand front of house and interact with the customer.”

Located on McLaren Street, a stone’s throw from Sydney Harbour and next to the new Victoria Cross Sydney Metro station, connecting North Sydney to the Sydney CBD and beyond, the hotel is well positioned to capture both corporate and leisure demand.

The MICE market is expected to be a big driver of business with the property now boasting North Sydney’s largest conference and event zone at 399sqm, including five newly designed meeting areas.

“We have created additional conference spaces as part of the renovation. We’ve taken back-of-house areas and made them more functional,” Cuthbertson said.

“It accommodates well over 400 for both corporate and social events such as weddings.”

Cuthbertson is buoyed by the positive response from guests and has high hopes that the property will deliver on the owner’s expectations.

“It’s early days but the initial trading and feedback from customers has been really pleasing,” he said.