See the photos — exclusive tour of Albany’s new hotel as Australia’s first Hilton Garden Inn hotel opens doors

Australia’s first Hilton Garden Inn will open in Albany on Tuesday with the five-storey waterfront hotel heralding a new chapter for the global brand in WA and a new dawn for Albany tourism. Situated south of Mt Clarence and overlooking Princess Royal Harbour, it is Hilton’s fourth hotel in WA and its first in regional WA. Featuring a red and black external colour scheme to complement the neighbouring Albany Entertainment Centre, the hotel has 108 rooms, including king, twin and accessible rooms, and six deluxe rooms with “panoramic ocean views”. The brightly lit foyer with floor to ceiling windows opens onto the Albany Waterfront Marina featuring a restaurant and bar open to guests and the public. A 24-hour gym, 24-hour shop for guests and a 160sqm events space with three separated multi-media meeting rooms round off the amenities. The road to opening has been paved with obstacles since construction began in June 2019, with the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc on global supply chains and the collapse of WA builder Pindan Group in May throwing a spanner in the works closer to the finish line. Landowner Paul Lionetti has seen the historic build through the storm after buying the land for $1.5 million from the State Government in May 2016. The $24 million project received unanimous support at a meeting of the Southern Joint Development Assessment Panel in Perth in early 2019. Hilton Australasia vice-president operations Heidi Kunkel said the company looked forward to growing the Hilton Garden Inn brand in regional centres. “We are thrilled to partner with Foreshore Management to open our first Hilton Garden Inn in Australasia in the thriving regional cultural, commercial and coastal hub of Albany, WA,” she said. “Its opening demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the State and our first foray into regional WA.” Hilton Garden Inn Albany operations manager Steve Millhouse — who has 23 years of experience with the brand in Australia — said the hotel was perfect for Albany’s corporate and leisure travellers. “We focus on what matters most for our guests with modern amenities, vibrant, open spaces offering upscale accommodation,” he said. “It is an ideal location to the waterfront and within walking distance of the town centre. “We couldn’t be more delighted to debut the Hilton Garden Inn brand to Australia and especially to the Albany community. “Looking towards the future when travel will be imminent early next year, this becomes even more exciting.” Mr Millhouse said through collaboration with tourism bodies and businesses, the team would be adding an “upscale experience” to grow visitation to the Great Southern. “Many activities are in the pipeline to continue the growth and awareness to the region,” he said. “We have commenced working in partnerships within the community and wish to continue growing relationships that help strengthen the industry.” Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington described the hotel as an “absolutely wonderful development”. “It is finished off well. It looks terrific from inside out and I think it looks terrific from the outside in,” he said. “It is something that we have needed for quite some time and I think it is going to be a very important asset to the City.” The Hilton Garden Inn is Albany’s first hotel since the demolition of the Esplanade Hotel in Middleton Beach in 2007. As the first Hilton Garden Inn in Australia it joins others in Bali, New York, London and Dubai, and will be followed bythe country’s second Hilton Garden Inn scheduled to open in Busselton in 2023.