Business View Oceania | September 2020

34 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA SEPTEMBER 2020 I nterContinental Melbourne The Rialto offers the experience of a lifetime in a much loved Melbourne landmark. Its enchanting Venetian Gothic façade begs to be photographed, while inside, the 21st century is embraced with exquisite modern décor and all the amenities. Located in the heart of the CBD, this quintessentially Melbourne destination offers 253 beautiful rooms and iconic suites, 11 meeting spaces, and award-winning restaurant and bars. Business View Oceania recently spoke with Erik Steube, General Manager of InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, about this extraordinary, historic building that he manages. It’s a continuing saga that brings the past to life and shows why this hotel is THE place for making memories. BVO: Let’s start with the building’s history and how it evolved into the fantastic destination you have today. Steube: “That part is the foundation of the entire property. Not just in terms of its personality but in terms of its success, its positioning, its appeal, its unique selling point, its WOW factor. It was built in 1891 in the height of Melbourne’s boom time. Gold was discovered here in the middle of the 19th century and by 1891, Melbourne was the richest city in the world. There was more money here than you could believe, even though it was a bit of a frontier town. The entire main street, called Collins St., once AT A GLANCE INTERCONTINENTAL MELBOURNE THE RIALTO WHAT: Historic landmark hotel WHERE: Melbourne, Victoria WEBSITE: www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/melbourne/melha/ hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-IC-_-AU-_-MELHA TAL TO A passion for the past