January 22, 2025

Novotel reinvents the airport hotel


When I started flying, I travelled around the country in Boeing 727s, Douglas DC-9s, and Fokker F27 Friendships for junior sports championships and family holidays. The notion of airport hotels was something you might have seen in an episode of The Jetsons.

I remember that the earliest hotels serving Australian airports were located outside the airport grounds, necessitating a shuttle or taxi for travellers to reach the terminal. If I recall correctly, it was only in 1970, with the opening of the Travelodge Tullamarine, that guests could easily walk to the terminal from their hotel room. 

Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport in 1971 (supplied)

Slowly, the other Australian airports followed suit. Perth will finally join the fold when the new Pullman Perth Airport hotel opens in 2027.

While Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport may be criticised for dragging its heels with the long-overdue Melbourne Airport rail link, it can still thumb its nose to other airports with the quality of its hotels and number of beds within a comfortable stroll to any of the terminals. Add them all up and you have 947 rooms across five brands.  

So, when I headed overseas last December, I made a point of staying at the Novotel Melbourne Airport, the newest member of Tullamarine’s ‘aerotropolis’.

I’m pretty familiar with Accor properties, so when I checked in, the well-rehearsed welcome process was slick and seamless in the sparkling atrium. Check-in for the ibis Styles is in the same building and shares many of the same public spaces and facilities.

Deluxe King Room (supplied)

Checking into room 806, a 27m2 Deluxe King Room, it had everything you would expect, including a Nespresso machine and a 55-inch flatscreen television. The free optic fibre WiFi was strong and consistent.

Let’s remember we’re not going to be spending our honeymoon in an airport hotel, so rooms are practical and comfortable without unnecessary embellishment. Novotel’s fabulous and exclusive dual-technology mattress, double-glazed, floor-to-ceiling windows, a brutal shower and heavy curtains are the critical elements.

Dining options should really please everyone and being a bit hungry, I headed to the Amber State Taphouse & Kitchen for a smashed beef burger and fries which quickly arrested my cravings. A Stomping Ground Pale Ale was a perfect companion. 

Boccata Restaurant & Wine Bar (RE)

I could have just as easily enjoyed a classy sit-down meal with an acclaimed pasta dish at the Boccata Restaurant & Wine Bar also on the ground floor. Too good for any old airport really. The expansive breakfast buffet is also served here.

Smashed beef burger & fries
Not so famished? Grab a pastry and ST. ALi coffee (supplied by Melbourne’s own speciality coffee house) at Small Holdings in the foyer. 

Apart from the three food and beverage outlets, there are function facilities for up to 330 guests. Keep busy in The Aerofoil hotel-serviced co-working space, spread across two floors and available to guests and non-guests for short or long-term use.

Regardless of which property you are staying in, you have access to Higher State, Melbourne’s first airport health and wellbeing club featuring an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, massage, and fitness centre.

Aerofoil Workspace, the premier coworking space in Melbourne Airport (supplied)

A sound, solid slumber before a long-haul flight is the perfect fortification for such a task. While there is a courtesy shuttle to the terminal, the trifling 400m walk will do me good.

Novotel Melbourne Airport
1 Grants Road, Melbourne Airport, Tullamarine, VIC, Australia
Phone +61 3 4247 2100
Fax +61 3 4247 2100
E-mail hb327@accor.com


 


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1 comment:

Jim said...

Cool design.

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