Collection by TFE: independent hotels in Australia and New Zealand collect major industry recognition

# What this update covers Collection by TFE Hotels has gathered fresh industry recognition across its portfolio in Australia and New Zealand. The wins span global listings, local awards and early praise for recently opened properties, reflecting the brand strategy of curated, independently owned luxury boutique hotels.

# Awards and listings

In Melbourne, Hannah St Hotel won Premium Luxury Lifestyle Hotel of the Year at the Victorian Accommodation Awards. The property opened late 2025 and earned its first MICHELIN Guide listing in the Melbourne Hotels selection within ten months of opening.

# Collection TFE Markets the Collection as a deliberately curated set of independent hotels that emphasize design, service and sense of place. The Collection brings together stand-alone properties that are independently owned but operated with TFE's operational capabilities and development partnerships. TFE's Global Marketing Officer, Katia Giurtalis, framed the Collection as focused on "one of one" hotels that connect to their communities.

Director of Development John Sutcliffe pointed to guest experience as central to commercial and reputational success: destination dining, bespoke experiences and intuitive service are cited as drivers that create legacy developments for owners while delivering returns.

# Property highlights and partnerships

• The Calile (Brisbane): Opened October 2018 in partnership with Calile Malouf Investments. The hotel has been repeatedly recognized on the global stage and remains a consistent presence on the World's 50 Best Hotels extended list.

• The Hotel Britomart (Auckland): Opened three years after The Calile with owners Cooper and Company. It has earned repeated MICHELIN recognition and is presented as a sustainable, locally rooted luxury option in Auckland.

• The EVE Hotel (Sydney): Opened February of the previous year. The EVE takes a design-forward approach and draws on Australian landscape and city culture rather than overseas references. The hotel assembled first-time hotel partnerships among local F&B brands behind The Apollo, Cho Cho San and Olympus, combined with local hospitality practitioners and designers.

• Hannah St Hotel (Melbourne): Developed with Time & Place, Hickory and MaxCap, with interiors by Flack Studio. Located between the CBD, Yarra River and Arts Precinct, Hannah St offers a European bistro, rooftop terrace, 20m lap pool, gym and a Work Club with soundproof podcast studios. Its early awards and MICHELIN listing show rapid local impact.

# What this means for owners and operators TFE frames the Collection as a model that pairs independent ownership with TFE's operating expertise and development guidance. The portfolio's recent accolades are presented as validation for the model: design-led, community-connected hotels that can perform commercially and accumulate industry recognition.

# Bottom line Collection by TFE is consolidating recognition across several headline properties through consecutive MICHELIN listings, a World's 50 Best Hotels placement for The Calile and regional award wins for new openings like Hannah St. The portfolio's strategy blends bespoke design, local partnerships and owner-led development to build distinct hotels aimed at both guest appeal and long-term returns.