With 12 signings already secured, the first five Handwritten properties are set to open in the first three months of this year, two of which will open in Australia in the coming weeks.
Wonil Hotel Perth, Handwritten Collection – a stylish, modern hotel located on the banks of Swan River, next to Kings Park – is due to open in early February, while in Sydney, 82-bed Hotel Morris, Handwritten Collection, housed within an historical, Italian Renaissance-styled building, will reveal a major restoration when it opens later next month.
Accor’s Global Chief Development Officer, Premium, Midscale, Economy, Camil Yazbeck, told HM that the brand presents a strong development opportunity for Accor in Australia and beyond.
“These two in Australia will be amazing flagships for the brand and I believe there’s a huge development opportunity for Handwritten across Australia,” he told HM exclusively.
Hotel Morris will share the owner’s passion for Italy, showcasing Italian food, wine, and coffee, Accor’s Global SVP Economy & Midscale Brands, Caroline Bénard, explained at the virtual brand launch on Thursday evening. On arrival, guests will be presented with a welcome drink with an orange and lemon base – a nod to the traditional fruits of Italy – and in their rooms they will be offered a Sicilian deck of cards and a handwritten note.
China, France, Estonia, and Vietnam will also be among the first to introduce Handwritten Collection hotels with more to follow in Romania and Spain.
Hotel Shanghai Sheshan Oriental, Handwritten Collection, is the very first of the brand to debut, opening its doors on January 19, 2023. The hotel boasts over 124,000 square meters of landscaped gardens and an outdoor beach pool.
Art and chic holiday home Le Saint Gervais Hotel and Spa, Handwritten Collection in Saint Gervais, France will share the same opening date. Also in France, Le Splendid Hotel Lac d’Annecy, Handwritten Collection opens in April, while Oru Hub Hotel, Handwritten Collection in Tallinn, Estonia, opens in May.