HICAP ANZ announced the winner of its prestigious Development of the Year and Transaction of the Year Awards on 2 September 2022, at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour in Sydney, NSW, Australia.


The Little National Hotel – Sydney, NSW, Australia, was named Development of the Year 2019-2022.

Developed and operated by Doma, the 230 room Little National Hotel Sydney opened in the heart of the Sydney CBD in November 2020. The Little National concept recognizes a community of travelers seeking a highly tailored and beautiful product that provides the essentials of accommodation with no compromises, but at an accessible price. Luxury, a great location, and affordability are the driving principles. It’s all about intelligent design, clever use of space, quality materials and focus on the hinges that really matter to people. Guest rooms are compact yet use spatial planning and generously proportioned sleeping spaces to ensure each guest is wrapped in comfort. One of the very distinctive features of the Little National Hotel model is the ability to use allowable GFA in a development to its maximum potential by delivering more rooms for a small discount on average revenue per night offset by lower operating cost. This complex project, total development cost undisclosed, which rises above the Wynyard walk completed within months of the original program, on budget and within contingency, despite the effect of COVID. Finalists in the category also included the Crystalbrook Kingsley in Newcastle, NSW, Australia, and the Oval Hotel in North Adelaide, SA, Australia.


Travelodge Portfolio – Australia, was named Transaction of the Year 2019-2022.

On 30 June 2022, Salter Brothers settled on the Australian Travelodge Portfolio, previously owned by Mirvac and NRMA. The portfolio of 10 hotels worth AUD$583M was purchased under a new joint venture with Singaporean sovereign wealth fund, GIC, Salter Brothers, and Switzerland-headquartered Partners Group. It consists 1,946 midscale hotel rooms located across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Newcastle. As part of its acquisition strategy, Salter Brothers entered into one of the largest hotel management portfolio deals in Australian history, partnering with Accor to rebrand each of the assets on settlement under the Novotel, Mercure, and ibis Styles brands. Finalists in the category also included AccorInvest Australian Hotel Portfolio in Australia and Primus Hotel in Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Dean Dransfield of Dransfield Hotels & Resorts chaired the Development of the Year Award committee. David Simpson of Axsia HTL chaired the Transaction of the Year Award committee. The committees were comprised of hotel industry leaders who selected, reviewed, and nominated deals. The finalist information was then sent to the HICAP ANZ delegates for voting.

HICAP ANZ 2022 – DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD COMMITTEE

Dean Dransfield, Dransfield Hotels & Resorts (Chair)

David Berry, Tuscan

Ron de Wit, Horwath HTL in Australia

David Fraser, Axsia HTL

John Stawyskyj, Ashurst

Andrew Taylor, Cre8tive Property

HICAP ANZ 2022 – TRANSACTION OF THE YEAR AWARD COMMITTEE

David Simpson, Axsia HTL (Chair)

Peter Harper, JLL

Damien Little, Horwath HTL in Australia

Michael Simpson, CBRE Hotels

Dean Minett, Minett Prime Square Pty Ltd

Karen Wales, Colliers

Related articles:

$120m Little National Hotel Sydney Wynyard Station approved for Doma Group

DOMA reveals September open date for Sydney Little National hotel

Doma Group begins construction of Little National Hotel, Sydney CBD

$620m Travelodge hotel portfolio sold to Salter Brothers JV by McVay Real Estate