Renderings have been released by Marriott International for the company’s first Moxy-branded hotel in Australia, which was signed this week and is due to open in July 2021.

Moxy Melbourne South Yarra will sit at 30-32 Claremont Street, will be a newbuild and will offer 180 rooms close to many city attractions including Chapel Street and the Royal Botanic Garden. Overseeing the project are developers Hector Ktori and Peter Arvanitis. The hotel is being designed by architectural firm Rothelowman.

Rooms will feature floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise natural light. Guests will have access to a co-working space and collaborative meeting spaces – a hallmark of the Moxy brand – as well as a social bar area and rooftop bar overlooking the city. A fitness centre will also be on-site and available for guests to utilise.

Marriott International Senior Director of Hotel Development, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Richard Crawford, told HM that introducing the Moxy brand was a strategic priority as it was the company’s most enquired-about brand among investors and developers.

“The developers of Moxy Melbourne South Yarra are perfect examples of this, as first-time hotel owners who inspected numerous Moxy hotels abroad and returned with the confidence to invest in the Moxy story, in their home town.

“The signing of the first Moxy in Australia reflects a global trend towards mid-tier brands, and for the first time in Marriott’s history, 2018 saw us sign more mid-tier hotels than upper upscale and luxury hotels.”

Crawford said he was highly confident the brand would perform well in Australia, as its distinctive design foundations and high-energy personality would appeal to a large section of the market bound to become loyal followers.

“We are very confident about the prospects for the Moxy brand in our region, with announcements of more signings imminent in major Australian and New Zealand markets.”

The mid-scale Moxy brand debuted in Europe in Milan in September 2014 and has since spread both across the continent and to North America, with 30 properties now open and 80 more in the pipeline. Moxy’s brand DNA reflects a compact, stylish hotel, highly technological yet with a level of comfort and service to deliver a fun guest experience. It is aimed at busy travellers, with features such as a social lounge, 24/7 ‘Grab and Go’ style food and drinks service, plenty of power outlets for personal devices and fast wi-fi.