Hi,
If you were going to Sydney on business and wanted something cool, a little different but still business-oriented, are there any hotels you'd recommend? and why? Thanks!

Hi, Mommar!
By "business-oriented", I presume you mean equipped with facilities like conference rooms, and certainly there are plenty of hotels like that -- but finding one that is also "a little different" is the trick -- my immediate feeling is that all "business hotels" are peas in a pod.

If you wanted to get out of Sydney, only about two hours' drive away, I'd suggest Ranelagh House at Robertson; it's a fabulous old mansion (in its time it has been a guest house, a hospital, and a convent, and you're always reminded of its former existences by its unusual features, such as the stained-glass windows, the antique furniture, and its own chapel)miles from anywhere which is bliss when it's half-empty, but is periodically taken over by rowdy conventions -- so I guess that's "business-oriented". Assuming, however, you want to be close to the city, but not in the same location as everyone else, you might try the following suggestion, of which I have no personal experience, as I just cut-and-pasted it from a website that I found by typing "hotels coogee" into google:
COOGEE BAY BOUTIQUE HOTEL - From 101 USD
THE COOGEE BAY BOUTIQUE HOTEL IS A UNIQUE RESIDENTIAL HOTEL LOCATED ON COOGEE BEACH OFFERING A SENSE OF LUXURY USUALLY FOUND IN A GRAND BEACHSIDE GUESTHOUSE. THE PROPERTY FEATURES AN ART DECO THEMED LOBBY AND GUEST ROOMS OFFERING BALCONIES WITH SHUTTERED DOORS AND COMFORTABLE FURNITURE REMINISCENT OF THE 1920S AND 30S. THE CONFERENCE ROOMS, FREE PARKING AND THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE HOTEL TO THE AIRPORT, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND MAJOR ATTRACTIONS MAKE THIS THE PERFECT VENUE FOR THE BUSINESS OR LEISURE TRAVELER. .

Is this the kind of thing you're after? Coogee is a beach just "down the road" from the more-famous Bondi Beach... but the beachside is less tourist-trappy than Bondi. Might be fun.

alan! Great ideas, thanks so much. have you heard anything about The Establishment?

I once stayed at the COOGEE BAY BOUTIQUE HOTEL. It is not what I would describe as a business hotel. There is a newer and an older wing... I was in the older. But the entire place is built above and around a beer garden and major pub. It was more of a party place when I was there. And my room was quite old. I think there is a crown plaza in the Coogie area if you like that area. It was a very nice beach. But that hotel doesn't fit the requirement of business.

If you want to stay in sydney and you have a budget to work with try the Quay hotel for a bit different. If I have my story correct, it is where Russell Crowe lives, and is at the far end of the botonic gardens. But more experienced people might validate this. There is also a Quay location in the rocks area. And then there is the Observatory Hotel - which is a landmark and has an incredibly cool pool.

Hi there
There are a few cooler hotels that I would recommend. The Establishment which is in the CBD, is particularly good, with an excellent restaurant attached called Est. The hotel is expensive ? you pay for style and location. It has a beautiful interior that was recovered from a fire that almost destroyed the building. The Blackett, which is nearby, is a similar hotel ? I think it's in a converted bank.

W at Woolloomoolloo is the super trendy hotel in a converted wharf ? it is apparently excellent for business, plus it has excellent restaurants on its pier. Some people don't like the location ? it's about two kilometres from the city centre ? but it is an interesting area full of row terraces etc.

In Darlinghurst, which is the Soho of Sydney, you can find two excellent hotels which are small boutiques. They are called The Kirketon and The Medusa. The Kirketon is probably the more business-like of the two. Darlinghurst is trendy, is close to the red-light district, but for anyone who is in the know, it is the area to go out and enjoy yourself.

Hope this helps you in your decision.

Thanks!! All excellent tidbits of info. We've stayed at numerous W hotels and they don't feel that special anymore. The one in Sydney is very nice but bad location for walking to and from things. I like Darlinghurst so I'll check those out and the other two mentioned in downtown area.

Mommar,

Darlinghurst is farther from the city than the W. The W is a 10 minute walk from the city centre.

If you want Darlinghurst, check out the Kirketon and Medusa.