What is your IHG One Rewards status?
Platinum Ambassador

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
2 Double Standard Lounge Access, received 2 Double Standard Lounge Access (nothing in a higher category with double beds available, however we were allocated a harbour facing room on the top floor)

How are the rooms?
Excellent with all the modern features you could ask for, including curtains that automatically open as you enter the room and bedside buttons to open and close them. TV only has free-to-air channels but they do have Chromecast. Bathroom was well-stocked with amenities and featured a rainfall shower. There was a full minibar and excellent complimentary tea/coffee facilities including pods, hot chocolate and FOUR different types of T2 tea!

How is the exec. lounge?
Truly a highlight of this hotel. I believe the lounge used to be located on another floor but has now moved to the former Aura rooftop bar space on the 12th floor. The lounge is open from 6:30am to 10:30pm daily with breakfast from 6:30am-10am (11am on weekends), evening drinks and canapés from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and all day coffee, tea, soft drinks and light snacks. There are great views and plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. Children are allowed to visit accompanied by an adult at any time.

The all day offering was impressive with fresh fruit, Cadbury Dairy Milk bars and Red Rock Deli chips. We visited around 9pm on the evening we arrived and were given a lounge tour and offered a non-alcoholic drinks menu. On the Saturday the lounge area was also open to the public for a chargeable High Tea experience, however in-house guests could continue to visit for the complimentary snacks and drinks.

The evening drinks and canapés service was also impressive with 1-2 hot dishes, some cold items, fruit, cheese, cold cuts and something sweet available from the buffet. For drinks they have an extensive list of beers, wines and ciders including a zero alcohol beer and wine. Drinks were served by the lounge staff and although there were spirits behind the bar I think these were chargeable, we stuck with wine and beer anyway. Food was regularly replenished and on the second night I even saw them bring out some special fish and chips for the kids.

Lounge guests can't have breakfast in the hotel restaurant which was a little surprising, however the breakfast in the lounge was good with a selection of hot items, bakery, cold cuts, fruit, yoghurt and cereal, with juices self-serve and barista made hot drinks. They also had an egg chef in the lounge who could make omelettes to order, while other egg dishes such as poached eggs looked to be pre-prepared and brought up from the restaurant.

What was good and what was bad?
The Good

• The lounge. Paying the small premium for lounge access is a must!
• Great location in central Hobart right above the Myer department store and adjoining Cat and Fiddle shopping arcade. It is a 10-15 minute walk downhill to the waterfront where you will find the ferry to Mona, the Salamanca Markets and lots of other attractions.
• The staff, everyone we came across was super friendly, welcoming and helpful. The lounge staff in particular were excellent, we were never left with an empty glass and they were keen to share suggestions for things to see and do in Hobart.
• Welcome gift of some chocolate-covered almonds and a hand-written card were also in the room on arrival, in addition to the standard welcome amenity of points / drink vouchers for which we took drink vouchers.
• Local flavour / experience. The hotel is Tasmanian owned and they clearly take pride in this, with lots of Tasmanian produce on their menus.

The Bad (nothing particularly bad, just noted for review purposes)

• Would be nice if the lounge breakfast included some potatoes / hash browns! Also it is presumably a fair bit of effort and expense for the hotel to provide the separate offering for lounge guests and I wonder if it would be better for them to direct those with lounge access to the main restaurant instead. I had breakfast at the hotel restaurant on a prior visit two years ago and it was exceptionally good.

Value for $ or IHG One Rewards Points? Would you return?
AUD $305/night for three nights. This was my second stay at this hotel and if anything, this stay was better than the first. Highly recommended and would definitely return!

Photos in the spoilers below!