The Olympia in Sydney’s Paddington is set to become Australia’s first 25hours hotel when it opens in Q1, 2025. We speak with its new General Manager to learn more.
25hours Hotels is part of Ennismore, a joint venture with Accor, formed in 2021.
The urban-style 25hours Hotels group operates 15 hotels in destinations including Florence, Paris, Dubai and Copenhagen.
Silvia Kypriotis will serve as General Manager of the 109-key hotel when it opens, bringing with her more than 20 years’ experience in the hotel industry, beginning her career with Stamford Hotels & Resorts, eventually working across eight Accor Hotels.
“I grew up in Australia after migrating with my family from Egypt,” Kypriotis tells Karryon.
“My earliest travel memories were of visiting resort destinations in Egypt. It was then I started to fall in love with being in hotels. Hotels are fascinating places where people from all diverse backgrounds come together. I love being a part of people’s careers and watching them grow. I strongly believe that hotels can really transform people’s lives,” she says.
To make it as a hotel general manager, Kypriotis says strong leadership skills are a must and the ability to form meaningful connections with all stakeholders, including staff and guests.
“The heart and soul of a hotel lie within its team, and as a GM, you are responsible for guiding this team to deliver outstanding and memorable guest experiences,” she says.
She was attracted to the role because of 25hours Hotels’ reputation as a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community.
“The Olympia is exactly that, and I am honoured to bring that to life,” she says.
The Olympia is working with some of Sydney’s finest architects: Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and interior designers, Woods Bagot for food and beverage; and also Indyk Architects for guest rooms and public areas.
“Design work has been influenced and led by the narrative of the building, its context and history. The fact that the building was the first theatre in Sydney, The Olympia (opened in 1911) and later reinvented as the Odeon cinema and then later as the Academy Twin, as well as supporting a colourful and notorious bar known as the Grand Pacific Blue Room – all this inspired a theme around theatre/film/cinema/media to video and more,” she says.
Guest room designs have been inspired by film noir and cinematic characters of The Renegade and The Dreamer, utilising bold colours and graphics.
“The public area’s furniture selections will follow those seen in film, and the historic entry stair will be transformed to a library of cinema and film books…..and there will be more surprises,” she says.
The hotel’s 109 rooms will span six floors; and the hotel will also include event and meeting areas, a Levantine restaurant, a street café, and a rooftop bar.
“Launching a new brand into the Pacific is very exciting. Building a team to bring this hotel and asset to life is certainly a priority,” she says.
The hotel is being built under the direction of Sydney property developer Central Element.
