KUALA LUMPUR (March 25): Melbourne property developer Beulah has joined hands with Nirvana Asia Group founder Tan Sri Kong Hon Kong and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to bring a new hotel to Melbourne, Australia that will be located within Beulah's A$2.7 billion development, STH BNK, which is set to be the tallest building in the country.

Kong invested in the hotel — the Four Seasons Hotel Melbourne, which will have 210 rooms and crown the western tower of STH BNK — via his private vehicle KHK Group.

In a joint statement by the partners, Kong said KHK is proud and excited to bring the globally renowned brand to Melbourne, Australia together with Beulah. "Melbourne being one of the most liveable cities in the world has fared well economically during the pandemic and we are thrilled to expand and continue our investments in Australia."

The Four Seasons Hotel Melbourne will be accessible via a Sky Lobby situated on the 63rd floor of the STH BNK tower, which will offer panoramic views of Melbourne's city skyline, beachfront and Royal Botanical Gardens. The hotel will also offer a world-class integrated health and wellness experience, a sprawling rooftop restaurant and bar and multiple event spaces, creating an ultra-luxurious urban resort in the sky, the statement read.

Beulah executive director Adelene Teh said Four Seasons is the perfect partner for STH BNK By Beulah and will offer an unmatched hospitality experience, while remaining uniquely Melbourne. "As STH BNK by Beulah continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in the luxury, lifestyle and sustainability spaces, Four Seasons aligns perfectly to our ethos and vision, offering unparalleled experiences, a bold commitment to innovation, and fantastic sustainability initiatives across its hotels and resorts," Teh said.

Bart Carnahan, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts' president of global business development and portfolio management, said the new hotel will set a new standard for luxury in Melbourne, offering guests an exceptional Four Seasons experience set within an environment that will be unmatched in this market.

"At Four Seasons, we look for opportunities where we can be part of innovative new projects, with partners who share our vision for excellence — Four Seasons Hotel Melbourne is no exception, and we look forward to welcoming guests through our doors in the years ahead," he said.

According to the statement, STH BNK By Beulah is also set to become the tallest vertical garden in the world, setting a precedent for future skyscrapers to incorporate the natural environment. The vertical garden will reach a total of 5.5km, the length of Melbourne's famed The Tan running track nearly 1.5 times over, it said.

Envisioned as a vertical mini-metropolis, STH BNK By Beulah will comprise four distinct collections of private residences, public and green spaces, a rooftop sky garden, 3,000-seat auditorium, commercial offices, childcare centre, a health and wellness precinct, arts and culture spaces and programmes, as well as world-class experiential retail, all within two twisting terraced forms.

Construction is expected to start late this year and be completed in five years.