Tried & Tested

Hotel check: Sheraton On The Park

5 Jul 2013 by BusinessTraveller

BACKGROUND Originally opened in 1992, this Sydney hotel was rebranded as the Sheraton On The Park in 1995, and is now one of only a handful of properties still owned by Starwood.

It is one of three Starwood-branded hotels in Sydney, the others being the Westin Sydney and the Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Darling Harbour. There are a total of four Sheraton properties across Australia, with the Sheraton Melbourne and Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane currently under development and due to open next year.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? The 557-room hotel occupies a 22-storey building on Elizabeth Street, overlooking Hyde Park in Sydney’s central business district. The hotel’s lobby has an art deco feel, with a grand curved staircase, marble pillars and flooring, and browns and bronzes being the predominant colours. We arrived early at around 1130, and staff were happy to take our bags and store them ready to be taken up to our room once it had been prepared.

WHERE IS IT? Overlooking Hyde Park, where the city’s Anzac War Memorial and Pool of Reflections are located. The entrance to St James metro station (which serves Sydney’s airport rail link) is opposite the hotel, and the Australia museum is situated a few minutes’ walk away on the other side of the park. The property is also well located for Sydney’s major shopping centres including the Queen Victoria Building on George Street.

ROOM FACILITIES Rooms have similar art deco design elements, mixed with a modern, almost nautical theme – round porthole-style mirrors with thick circular wooden frames sit above black and white striped headboards.

Entry level rooms start from 40 sqm, and have either city side or Hyde Park views. Facilities include king-size Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds, walk-in wardrobe, armchair and coffee table, desk with an international power adaptor and wired and wifi internet access (AUS $20 per day), TV, DVD player, CD player, minibar, tea and coffee facilities, iron and ironing board, one of the largest safes I have seen in a hotel room, and a bathroom with separate bath and shower, and a double basin.

Those opting for Sheraton Club access (which can be paid for either in advance or on arrival) receive benefits including complimentary shoe shining and pressing of two items of clothing – I requested mine to be taken on the evening of arrival and returned the following morning by 0800, and when I returned from breakfast at 0815 the items were hanging back in the wardrobe.

The Executive Club lounge is located on the 21st floor, and is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the hotel. Guest with Club privileges can access the lounge between 0700 and 2100, with complimentary continental breakfast from 0700, and drinks and canapés served between 1730 and 1930.

The lounge was busy when we visited at around 1830 on a Tuesday evening, but we managed to find a seat at the far end. The space is decorated in warm tones of brown, orange and grey, and looks out over Hyde Park and beyond. Waiters were on hand to take drink requests, or guests can visit the self-service area where dishes included fresh fruit, pastries, cheeses, cookies, olives, wraps, savoury canapés, oysters, smoked salmon and calamari. It’s not hard to see why the lounge was busy, as it’s a great place to unwind.

There are also two computers and fax / photocopying facilities in the lounge, and guests can avail of one hour’s use of the Executive Club Boardroom per day, subject to availability.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS The hotel recently revamped its all-day dining buffet restaurant on the first floor, rebranding it from Botanica Brasserie to Feast, and it’s a bright, modern area, with white walls, counters and tables, and an al fresco dining area. A stone hearth oven has been added to the open plan kitchen for pizzas and homemade breads, along with new private dining booths and communal tables.

When we visited Feast at 0730 for breakfast it was bustling, with staff hurrying around to keep up with requests and table clearing. I asked for a tea when I sat down, but this didn’t arrive, so I requested it again from another member of staff and this time it was delivered.

A very extensive buffet breakfast offering is available, with far too many dishes to note them all down here, but among the choices included cold meats, yoghurt, cereals, fresh fruit, pancakes and ice cream, bread and butter pudding, rice and noodle dishes, vegetarian choices including sweet potato and tofu dishes, and a station serving omelettes and eggs to order.

The hotel’s other food and beverage options include the Conservatory Bar and Terrace, also located on the first floor and featuring live piano music on Friday and Saturday nights, and the Gallery Tea Lounge on the lobby level, serving pastries, snacks and afternoon tea.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES The Sheraton On The Park has a total of 18 meeting spaces, including the 900-capacity pillarless Grand Ballroom on the 2nd floor, featuring a four metre-high ceiling and coloured LED lighting for themed events. Meetings on 5 on the hotel’s fifth floor houses a series of boardrooms, as well as an outdoor terrace area and a Cisco Telepresence room.

Sheraton’s signature Link@Sheraton business centre is located on the ground floor behind the lobby, and offers seven computers, a TV which was tuned to a news channel when I visited, and a round table for working and connecting laptops. Free wifi is available in the hotel’s public areas.

LEISURE FACILITIES The hotel’s spa and health club is located at the top of the property on level 22, and features a heated indoor pool and spa bath with views out over Hyde Park (open 0600 to 2100), as well as gym (open 24 hours), and the On The Park Rejuvenation Day Spa, offering a range of treatments including sports and hot stone massages, and specialist treatments such as a Waterlilly seasonal wrap and a Vanilla Bean Crème Body Polish.

VERDICT A top-end hotel, well-located for Sydney’s shopping and central business districts, with excellent Executive Club and leisure facilities, well-equipped rooms and an extensive breakfast buffet selection at Feast.

FACT FILE

  • HOW MANY ROOMS? 557, of which 239 are City Side rooms, 191 are Hyde Park View rooms, 50 are Executive City Side rooms, 29 are Executive Hyde Park View rooms, 31 are Executive suites, eight are Terrace Suites, four are Deluxe Terrace suites, and there are one each of the Terrace Spa suite, Hyde Park suite, Ambassador suite and Royal suite.
  • HIGHLIGHTS The Sheraton Club on the 21st floor, and the rooftop swimming pool and gym.
  • PRICE Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in September started from AUS $315 for a City Side room.
  • CONTACT Sheraton On The Park, 161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney; tel + 61 (2) 9286 6000; starwoodhotels.com

Mark Caswell

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