HOTEL: Sofitel Adelaide to open in September 2021

Adelaide has 12 Accor Hotels across its brands from Pullman and Art Series through to Mantra and Ibis. Most are in the 4 star and below area, but it is soon to get a 5 star Sofitel. Initially slated for way back in 2018, it will finally open in September 2021.

At the western side of the city centre at 108 Currie Street, it is more business area adjacent rather than in the thick of it.

It will be a substantial hotel with 250 rooms across 24 floors. The mixed-use building runs to 35 floors, and those balconies on the top floors scream ‘apartments’ to me. Sure enough, they are part of the sold-out Luminesque development of 32 apartments over 7 floors.

The hotel will have all the 5 star trimmings; ballroom, meeting and conference venue, club lounge, inhouse French restaurante, 2 bars, swimming pool and gym.

Slightly literal for the city known for its churches rather than its piety, the room decor is themed around French and Australian cathedrals – an odd theme for a hotel and brand with – I would have thought, a more louche set of brand values.

The room decor is a bit busy and fussy for my taste, or at least it is in these renderings.

Rooms are on par with most capital city 5 star hotels, matching the recently opened EOS at Skycity, coming in at around AU$350/night

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

I hope to be a paying guest close to its opening. All that ‘Bonjour’-ing as a greeting and brand value puts me off Sofitel a little. Mind you, they have upgraded me to a vast suite in Melbourne, when I have negligible status with Accor.