Taplin Group is evolving The Bay’s hospitality scene with a $50 million development on the corner of Colley Terrace and Jetty Road, Glenelg. The hotel will offer sweeping vistas of the pristine St Vincent Gulf seas and Adelaide Hills, boasting accommodation and facilities rarely seen in Adelaide. But the hotel’s name? It will remain a mystery until closer to the opening. We sat down with Taplin Group Director, Tom Taplin, to hear his vision for this iconic site.
Transforming the western gateway to Jetty Road, Tom wants this hotel to be a key draw card for the Bay: business executives, families, and long-term visitors. “The vision is to attract as many people to Glenelg as possible,” Tom says. “To create an exceptional standard where visitors fall so in love with the experience they receive, they will come back again and again.”
The seven-storey hotel will feature retail and a rooftop bar, where guests can soak in the atmosphere of Moseley Square. “The hotel will include high-quality retailers, and unique and sought-after food businesses providing inimitable customer experiences to Glenelg,” Tom says.
“The new retail offerings will further diversify the shopping experience on Jetty Road,” he says. “Some of the previous much–loved businesses will be back alongside exciting newcomers, we are in negotiations with exciting new tenants. ”
Tom believes Taplin’s hotel will mark the beginning of Glenelg’s transformation. “Our hotel will have finishes that make you feel as if you’re in a modern palace, and interconnecting room facilities so large groups can enjoy one seamless experience without having to stay on different floors or across halls.”
The hotel will feature luxury throughout every room from the bedding to cutting-edge technology. Guests can watch the football on their large top-of-the-range TV while overlooking the beautiful Adelaide Hills or Glenelg Beach. “Every finish from the showerhead to tap or door handle has been thoughtfully considered to deliver the best look, practical application, and experience,” Tom says. “But the big point of difference will be fresh air and natural light; every room will have its own balcony with breathtaking views.”
While this premier property will be the first choice for high-end accommodation in Glenelg, the rooftop bar will bolster the precinct’s already vibrant social scene. “There is simply no facility like it in Adelaide and no matter what time you visit, whether it be winter or summer, you’ll have an unforgettable experience,” Tom says.
“We have fantastic bars in Glenelg, and we hope that the opening of this rooftop bar will encourage more people to stay and play.”
The hotel’s restaurant and bar will accommodate all types of experiences from casual dining to corporate functions overlooking Moseley Square and Glenelg’s year-round calendar of events. “Whether it be a summer’s night, City to Bay, Christmas pageant, Tour Down Under, or New Year’s Eve fireworks, it will be the perfect space for visitors to enjoy.”
The new hotel will feature ultra-convenient parking, exceeding the requirement for how much car parking is required. ‘Extra effort has been made to ensure the parks are easy to access, wide and secure’ Tom says.
The development has received overwhelming community support since details were released to the public, with a surge in enquiries through social media, and walk-ins at the office. Tom attributes this to locals seeking more accommodation, restaurants, bars, retail offerings, and experiences, and an overall desire to see an increase in Glenelg’s development. “They are so excited about what is coming and what the future holds,” Tom says. “The public has been clear - ‘build it and we will come’.”
Taplin is a household name in South Australia, Glenelg is their home. They opened their doors in 1932 at the same site being developed, and in 2022 celebrated 90 years in business.
