After much anticipation, I have arrived in Melbourne, Victoria. I’m here by myself, to check out The Grand Hotel and to do a review of shopping districts and fashion boutiques around the metropolitan area. I’m terribly excited!

The Grand Hotel is the newest addition to the exclusive hotel label, MGallery. All the hotels in the collection are outstanding in a particular way. They might be in a breathtaking location, have exceptional architectural design, or have a remarkable history – which in this case, The Grand certainly boasts of an amazing 120 year history.

Courtesy of Accor Hotels, I am staying in an absolutely amazing room. I must admit, I’ve never stayed in such a large and luxurious room before. I’m terrified and thrilled at the same time.

At first, I gingerly crept around, thinking eeek!, and didn’t dare to touch anything. Then I decided to JUST GET OVER IT KAREN – and had a nice hot bath, sit on the couch, with a big fluffy white robe, feet up, eating a fine dinner brought to me by the excellent room service.

Yes the service was truly wonderful!

When I checked in, I didn’t tell the receptionist that I was here to review the place. I felt like an undercover agent.

I asked him various casual questions about this and that. I tried to be a bit particular and difficult. Then I asked him a lot of hard questions about the new hotel branding, the history, the hotel features. I even asked about his own career in hospitality and his future plans.

The guy was fantastic. He was charming, warm, personal, and every question was answered clearly and concisely, with good humour and genuine excitement.

He took me on a tour of the hotel. I was so impressed with the character and style of the building. It used to be the Victorian Railways Administration Building, with high ceilings and gorgeous Victorian features. I adore historical character in buildings. Check out the original French tiles in the above photo, beautiful!

Most hotels you stay in, you don’t even think about the actual hotel building and the story behind it, it’s all about the latest and greatest features and fittings. But when you walk around the corridors of The Grand, it’s hard not to be struck by a strong sense of history and presence. It is very cool.

Well, it’s the end of a long day. And I have an early start tomorrow, I can’t wait!