The city’s oldest accommodation provider has changed colours to become the Mercure Maitland Monte Pio.
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The deal follows extensive renovations, worth $2.5 million, designed to make the old convent the city.
Hotel manager Atul Seth said there was a certain expectation that the old dame had to uphold.
“It’s a beautiful building with so much history,” he said.
“It’s iconic – it’s almost been here forever.”
The franchise deal aligns the four star property with Accor Hotels.
It’s Mercure brand was for the past five years represented at Rutherford.
That Denton Park Drive property was recently switched to Best Western, which opened the door for the Monte Pio.
Mr Seth bought the property five years ago after a statewide search that included options at Albury and Orange.
“The history of the Monte Pio grabbed me,” he said.
An elevator was one of the first additions, but the past 18 months has marked a period of real transformation.
The black slate was banished from the foyer, which now has white marble among its more luxurious appointments.
There’s the light, fresh paint throughout and new fixtures for the rooms.
The carpet was custom ordered and cost $320,000.
But Mr Seth has kept some of the old features and decorations including photos from a Drayton’s grape harvest taken in the 1980s.
There’s also the brass-panelled ceilings that fits well when the warm-coloured metal is again so popular in fashion pages.
“We’ve tried to keep the old charm and blend it with the new,” Mr Seth said.
The overhaul prepares the hotel for a new phase.
Mr Seth hoped that The Levee would bring more overnight visitation, outside of the big events, but points to conferences as a great opportunity for himself and Maitland.
The property boasts five conference rooms in addition to its revamped restaurant.
“There’s definitely room to grow the number of conferences we host but there’s some strong competition elsewhere in the Hunter,” he said.
“When people come for conferences they spend money in pubs or restaurants and they might pick up a few things from the shops which helps the economy.”
Mercure signs will be erected by the end of the month.