Hotel inside airport sure to take off

Rydges Sydney Airport hotel allows travellers to walk across the road and check in. Source: The Daily Telegraph

TRAVELLERS with early flights will be able to spend the night at Sydney Airport when a new hotel opens at the international terminal in May.

The 4.5-star Rydges Sydney Airport will have 318 rooms - about half with views over the runway - over 11 floors.

The $70 million development has been under construction for almost a year, inspired by airport hotels around the world in hubs such as Los Angeles, New York and London's Heathrow.

"It's the first hotel to actually be located at a terminal within the Sydney Airport precinct," Rydges general manager Tish Nyar said.

"The nearest at the moment is about five minutes away by shuttle bus.

"We're right at the international terminal, so there are no transfer costs.

"You don't have to worry about traffic, so there are no time issues.

"You can just walk across the road and check in."

Mr Nyar said the hotel was likely to appeal to businesspeople and travellers from regional areas who want to stay overnight in between a domestic and international flight.

"There are a lot of 6am arrivals and departures out of Sydney Airport," he said. "It's an added service for the airport and I think there's a strong demand for it."

The hotel will also have a restaurant, Blackwattle Grill, and a function room on the rooftop. Rooms will cost about $200 to $250 per night.

"We started taking bookings a week or two ago, so it's very exciting," Mr Nyar said. "We've also had conference inquiries for the property."

Tourism and Transport Forum spokesman Rowan Barker said having a hotel at the international terminal brings Sydney into line with other cities around the world, where hotels at airports are commonplace.

"International travellers are used to having the option of staying at the airport, rather than having to travel to get there, and Sydney Airport has been pushing to deliver this level of convenience for some time," he said.

"This will benefit business travellers and leisure visitors alike."

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