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Melbourne Place, true to its name

New to the Paris end of Melbourne's CBD is Melbourne Place: smaller, idiosyncratic and just a bit cooler than the tired international chain hotels around it.

David Meagher |
Melbourne Place, true to its name
The 191 rooms at Melbourne Place are a who's who of local furniture design and manufacturing.

The term "business hotel" usually sends a shiver down my spine. It conjures images of drab interiors and scores of people milling about in grey suits wearing name tags on lanyards. Two years ago I was put up in a New York hotel boasting the best business services in Manhattan (a big call). Its main claim to fame seemed to be international phone dialling and a fax machine in every room.

Interior design aside, there are a few boxes a good hotel for business travellers should tick: superfast internet, great dining options, health and wellness facilities, 24/7 concierge services and, most importantly, location, location, location. Melbourne is a city well-served by centrally positioned five-star international chain hotels: Grand Hyatt, Park Hyatt, Sofitel, The Westin. These are all fine hotels, but they're each tired and in desperate need of a major facelift.