The R Hotel, previously The Ritz, has been completely revamped and it looks incredibly luxe
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15.02.2021

The R Hotel, previously The Ritz, has been completely revamped and it looks incredibly luxe

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The R Hotel, Geelong will offer 128 apartments over nine levels within a newly renovated building which sat empty for 40 years.

In what has been a long time coming for many Geelong local, The R Hotel, previously The Ritz Hotel, has had an extensive makeover after sitting dormant for 40 years and will open its doors to the public on 1 March.

The key takeaways

  • The R Hotel is a Geelong heritage listed landmark building in the heart of the city, which has sat dormant for 40 years
  • The building has undergone a comprehensive makeover and renovation
  • The hotel opens on March 1 2021

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Formerly known as the Belle-Vue Hotel and built circa 1854, the abandoned Geelong heritage-listed landmark building has been a target for vandals, squatters and numerous fires over the years, becoming somewhat of an eyesore within our beautiful city. Now thanks to a $30.8 million redevelopment, the hotel has undergone an incredible transformation and will launch with 128 rooms and apartments over nine floors, with captivating views over Geelong’s north-facing waterfront and city skyline.

Originally intended to open under the name The Ritz Hotel, international trademark owners of “The Ritz” are taking issue with the Geelong hotel using the name. Federal court action has been launched by Ritz Paris, represented by Herbet Smith Freehills, and list respondents including Collective Hotel Managment, and developer Phillip Petch of Integrated Development Solutions.

Now, it’s The R Hotel.

Located just five minutes’ walk to Eastern Beach, this luxe new hotel offers visitors a 4.5-star full-service hotel experience with hotel rooms, one and two-bedroom self-contained apartments, pet-friendly apartments and a 24-hour reception.

The property’s guest rooms will be air-conditioned and have LCD TV, free high-speed Wi-Fi, free cable channels, refrigerator, espresso machine, tea and coffee making, room safes, and laundry facilities, while the apartments have a full kitchen with a microwave, dishwasher and cooking facilities.

Designed for energy efficiency, the building boasts 80 solar panel roofing, 7-star energy ratings in the guest rooms, plus argon gas-filled windows for heat and soundproofing, which is an incredibly large step up from what it’s seen in the past. The hotel provides guests with seven levels of secure undercover car parking including a dedicated bike parking area, plus two solar-powered electric vehicle charge stations. Perhaps the best part of all is that all the apartment furnishings have been sourced from local suppliers, with beds and tables made in Victoria and artworks being sourced from Melbourne, injecting money straight back into the local economy prior to even opening its doors.

Within the hotel, we’ll also see the opening of The R Cafe, located on the corner overlooking Austin Park towards the bay, in the original building facade.

The apartment hotel is located within an easy walk to Westfield Shopping Centre, Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Geelong’s waterfront restaurants and cafes, hospitals, universities and cultural attractions, local golf course, and easy access to the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast.

As much as possible, interior fittings and furnishings have been sourced from local Geelong, and Australian makers. Local companies worked on room interiors, beds are made in Victoria, tables made in Geelong and artwork from Melbourne.

Talk about a complete renovation, this one is a thing of beauty! Have a flick through the images up the top to see for yourself.

For bookings, visit The R Hotel website.