JASPER HOTEL, MELBOURNE

Jasper Hotel, owned and operated by the YWCA, a non profit organisation, has reinvented its image to offer 4 star boutique accommodation and fill a gap in the Melbourne tourism industry. Located next to the Queen Victoria Market in one of the major tourist hubs of Melbourne, made access a major issue, on top of this it was essential for the YWCA to keep the hotel partly operating throughout the refurbishment and have the works completed in time for the Commonwealth Games in 2006. The first stage consisted of a full renewal of 59 existing rooms over levels 4 to 8 with the focus on creating a feeling of space within the confined area. The third level has been converted from office space into 6 new deluxe suites to increase the hotel's capacity and variety of accommodation styles. The second stage consisted of an upgrade to the conference areas on ground and level 1, with the main focus being the revamp of the entrance and cafe to compliment the hotels new boutique image.