A Superior Room at Pullman Melbourne on Swanston.

A former Grand Mercure property in the Melbourne CBD has been transformed and rebranded to Pullman following a $30 million interior renovation, Accor revealed today.

Capitalising on the city’s eclectic laneway sub-culture, the new Pullman Melbourne on Swanston has been reopened for business and now features an artistic new persona aimed at providing guests with an authentic taste of the city.

The 15-storey building owned by Erdigroup, formerly operating as The Swanston Hotel Grand Mercure, saw its 204 guest rooms and public spaces converted using inspiration from four different interior design firms – Rothelowman, STUDIO MAC, Interiors by Foster and P49. The project saw the entire hotel interior stripped back to the bare bones and rebuilt from a blank canvas.

The colourful and artistic lobby opens from Little Bourke Street.

As part of the renovation, a ‘hidden laneway entrance’ was developed from Little Bourke Street which sees guests enter through an architectural tunnel to encounter an expansive and artistically-minded lobby.

a new Mezzanine-level restaurant and Club Lounge features within the new hotel, with the latter occupying an entire floor.

Accor Chief Operating Officer Pacific, Simon McGrath, said the company was thrilled to be working closely with Erdigroup on the new Pullman project.

“We applaud Erdigroup for their investment, commitment and vision to reinvent this hotel and introduce the well-respected Pullman brand – the fastest growing upper upscale brand in Asia Pacific – to Melbourne’s heart. Pullman Melbourne on Swanston is a celebration of innovative architecture, style, wellbeing and importantly for this location, great gastronomy.”