Metro Hotels has appointed John Lee as Acquisition and Development Manager, signalling the long-established chain is on the expansion trail.
John has previously worked in hotel development and property consulting and was the developer who put together the Metro Hotel Entertainment Centre Sydney. He sold the development prior to construction. Metro Hotels opened the property and ran it successfully for a number of years prior to it being sold. John has also worked in stockbroking with firms such as Ord Minnett and Bain and Company.
John McEvoy, Chairman of Metro Hotels, said the appointment of John Lee is the first step in a plan to reinvigorate the group’s expansion platform. “Metro Hotels has been around for almost 40 years and we need to be extending our presence in Australia and beyond” he said.
“We are looking for development opportunities as well as acquisitions, and in particular to securing management agreements and leases on existing hotels and properties. We have investors willing to buy properties and to fund the development of new ones” he added. Later this year the company will add to its portfolio a new 53-room hotel in the Perth market.
Metro Hotels is the public face of Transmetro Corporation, an Australian owned public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The Group currently provides a national accommodation network of properties with over 1,000 rooms in key locations and major cities across Australia
Dog lovers who don’t like to leave their furry friends behind when they travel interstate, will love a new service offered by Metro Hotels whereby dog owners can book accommodation for their pooch at the same time as booking accommodation for themselves.
Metro Hotels has teamed with FindADogMinder.com.au, offering guests who book accommodation at a Metro property in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, the opportunity to connect with a pet-sitter who can mind their dog in a caring home environment.
FindADogMinder.com.au is a leading dog boarding network connecting dog owners with dedicated dog lovers who mind pets in their own home.
Metro Hotels is confident dog-owners will be equally comfortable staying in one of its seven properties in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Metro Hotels is renowned for providing comfortable and spacious accommodation for people looking for a ‘home away from home’ in close proximity to that city’s attractions.
Following an online promotion conducted by Metro Hotels last month to name its new canine mascot, Metro Max was selected as the winning name from many entries, and will be used in future Metro Hotels’ advertising, marketing and merchandising.
To book yourself and your pet into accommodation, contact Jessica Lisica at Metro Hotels on (02) 9288 0182 or email jlisica@metrohg.com.
Exhausted from battling the recent fires: Seniors Lifestyle Competition winners Deb and Max Baigent from King Creek are delighted with their prize of a trip for two to Sydney
AFTER months of battling intense bush fires, one local volunteer will get a little respite he so well and truly deserves.
Captain of the King Creek Rural Fire Service Max Baigent and his wife Deb have been the lucky winners of the Senior Lifestyle Metro Sydney Escape competition.
The timing, the thankful and humble couple said, could not have been better.
Mr Baigent arrived home from the Harrington fires the day his wife heard the news.
"It's been a raging battle down there," he said. "We had a week of battling intense fires and I got back around midnight."
Utterly exhausted, the 57-year-old had mentioned earlier that he needed a holiday.
At first, his wife's words simply didn't register when she said they would be spending two nights in Sydney at the Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour.
"We're just so thankful to Senior Lifestyle for running this competition," he said. "All firies have just had a run of it the past five months, but all the crews have been doing such a fantastic job."
Her work with the Bundaleer Care Service also keeps Mrs Baigent on her feet. "You get so busy that you just don't take the time to rest," she said. "It makes it a bit different when you win something."
The 55-year-old said it would be nice to see her husband taking a break.
"It's an exhausting task they do, they get tired and weary but they all do it because they love it," she said. "It's their way of giving back to the community."
From the sleepy hollow of King Creek, to the hustle and bustle of the big smoke - the views over Darling Harbour will be a big change for the King Creek couple. "It's going to be very different, but it's going to be fantastic to have a bit of time to relax," Mr Baigent said.
As a local, I always get asked by friends and relatives from overseas about the best things to do to experience Sydney city first hand. If you have never been to Sydney - perhaps from interstate or from overseas - and want adventure and excitement (without trekking in the bush), then this is your guide to Sydney.
The rite of passage for any primary (elementary) school child in Sydney is going to Sydney Aquarium. It is a huge underwater aquarium where you get to experience unique freshwater and marine environments and discover an incredible 13,000 animals from 700 different species - including the world's largest variety of sharks and rays. This is great if you can't or don't like swimming and want to see sharks up close.
At Sydney Aquarium, you'll get to venture through 14 newly-themed zones including a new Shark Walk, a tropical Bay of Rays, an interactive Discovery Rockpool, Mangrove Swamps, a shipwreck and the new ocean tunnel walk-through - Shark Valley. Australia has some of the world's most intriguing marine animals - from dugongs to huge sharks, massive stingrays, majestic turtles, jellyfish, penguins, sea dragons, thousands of tropical fish, enormous crabs and much, much more. You can experience it all without getting wet!
From the freshwater rivers of the south to the tropical waters of the north, including the world's biggest and most impressive Great Barrier Reef exhibit, a trip to Sydney Aquarium takes you around Australia's coastline, into its oceans and up into its waterways - all without leaving the city.
Other than the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, unique Australian animals would be on the to see list of any tourist's schedule. Whether you're a kid at heart or arriving with kids, you'll love Wildlife Sydney Zoo, where you'll get a close encounter with iconic Australian animals: kangaroos and wallabies, koalas and kookaburras to possums to wombats.
If you're not into fluffy animals, they have reptiles and bugs too, where you get to view some of the deadliest Australian insects (behind glass of course). So whether your into cuddly cuteness or creepy crawlies, you are sure to be pleased.
For the ultimate view of the city of Sydney, you can't go past The Sydney Tower Eye (formally known as the Sydney Centre Point Tower). With a range of tours and walks available, they have packages to suit those of the not so faint hearted to people afraid of heights (but still want to see all of Sydney).
Skywalk Tour
You'll be walking on air 268 metres above stunning Sydney, with the city streets directly beneath your feet. Look down through the glass floor viewing platform for a bird's-eye perspective of the bustling city below, as part of a 45 minute guided tour around the outside of the iconic golden turret of Sydney Tower.
A must visit iconic Sydney attraction has to be the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Built in 1923, it has become a symbol of Sydney and Australia. Most people will take pictures of the bridge or perhaps travel on the bridge via the train or foot, but did you know that the bridge is now hosting bridge walks up to the top of the arch! It is an incredibly exhilarating experience, but rest assured, it is safe as every walker is harnessed.
Last but not least, one of the most well known representations of Australia has to be the Opera House. A unique architecture by Jørn Utzon, it epitomises Sydney and its wonderful shape of peaking crests are recognised all over the world. If you come to Sydney, this is a must visit place. The great thing about the Opera House is, you don't have to go inside or attend any events to tour the area. Feel free to walk about the premises and take pictures. If you want to go inside the Opera House, they do offer tours and musical or theatrical events for the public.
So there you have it, a feast for the eyes and senses. Be sure to try out the huge range of Australian cuisines on offer at restaurants around the city. We have some of the world's tastiest restaurants on offer. Our multicultural cuisines are combined with Australia's freshest produce to make them one of the best in the world.
If you're looking for accommodation close to all these major attractions around Sydney and aren't sure where to stay, Metro Hotels offer affordable and comfortable hotel rooms and apartments around Sydney city districts that will keep you close these venues and major public transport hubs.
Each hotel or self-serviced apartment is close to major train stations, buses or ferries. Because all four are situated in the city, there are also plenty of taxis available to catch on the street. Our city also offers a free bus service (it's a completely green bus) that loops around the main streets of Sydney. Many of the attractions can be reached by foot from our hotels. Nearby there are also supermarkets, shops, restaurants, convenience stores, ATMs and public toilets all within walking distance.
