Little Albion Guest House Opens in Sydney in Partnership with Airbnb

The intimate, guest house-meets-hotel allows guests to ‘live like a local’ in Surry Hills, and is the first hotel available for booking as a single listing on global travel platform Airbnb

A new boutique hotel has opened its doors today in the buzzing inner Sydney suburb of Surry Hills. The latest addition to the 8Hotels portfolio, which includes the petite The Ultimo in Sydney and Pensione Hotel in Perth, the plush 35-room Little Albion Guest House has been designed to capture both the intimacy and charm of a guest house and the absolutely luxury of a traditional five-star hotel.

Beautiful and yet unpretentious, the property has been designed and developed by 8Hotels and Builder / Designer Connie Alessi in consultation with Cressida Kennedy, and is largely influenced by 1920s and 1970s styles, merging a heritage listed building with new construction. The 8Hotels team spent three years driving the design process, working hand in hand with builders, artisans and fabricators to create a totally bespoke building filled with in-house designed art works and one of a kind fittings, finishes and fixtures throughout.

The concept for the design came about after researching hotels through the ages – from the ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn dating back to the eighth century AD) to the modern big box branded hotels of the 80s, followed by the explosion of boutique offerings and finally through to the innovation of the game-changing Airbnb platform. From here, Paul Fischmann, Founder and CEO of 8Hotels said, the 8Hotels team landed squarely on what both corporate and leisure guests genuinely want from their ‘home away from home’ – the luxury and comfort of a hotel teamed with the ease and familiarity of home.

“Little Albion Guest House was created with the needs of today’s luxury travellers in the front of our minds, which are the authenticity of a local experience, alongside world class boutique hotel service and ease of booking,” said Fischmann. “To do this we had to redefine the whole hotel category by imagining a modern guest house, developed with the same attention to detail that a home owner has in creating their dream home, resulting in this truly one of a kind property.”

Little Albion Guest House has also joined forces with Airbnb to be the first hotel available for booking as a single listing on the global travel platform and is now available to be booked in its entirety, from $15,000 a night. The partnership comes following Airbnb’s introduction of new searchable property types on the platform earlier this year, including B&Bs and boutique hotels, aimed at bringing the benefits of local and authentic travel to a broader audience.

“We want Airbnb to be for everyone, including hospitality providers that offer unique spaces and personalised hospitality. The Little Albion Guest House is a great example of a local boutique hotel that is opening its doors to travellers from around Australia and the world, offering guests more than just a bed for the night,” said Sam McDonagh, Country Manager for Airbnb in Australia and New Zealand.

In line with Airbnb’s vision of belonging anywhere and giving guests the opportunity to live like a local, Little Albion Guest House will also have a dedicated team of hosts led by boutique hotel guru and Surry Hills resident, Wendy Morris, who will be on hand around the clock to offer individualised service.

The boutique property boasts an enviable art collection, impeccable interiors and bespoke finishings, and features an honour bar stocked with top shelf beverages and gourmet nibbles where guests are encouraged to help themselves as they would at home – an offering also seen in a handful of other boutique hotels such as Alex Hotel in Perth. And rounding out Little Albion’s offering, guests also have access to a north-facing rooftop with a garden, outdoor shower, alfresco seating and views over Surry Hills and the city of Sydney, creating an inner city oasis and a respite from the busy streets below.

Little Albion Guest House is now available for bookings at airbnb.com.au/littlealbion.