Novotel Sydney Olympic Park

Beau and Chelsea lead a front office team at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park that made me feel recognised and genuinely cared for. Harry was kind and thoughtful too. Their welcome feels natural, never scripted. Even when getting to the CBD takes around 40 minutes, I still choose this hotel because it's hard to find that kind of sincere treatment elsewhere. It's one of my favourite hotels in Australia. I also loved eating at Bacar Restaurant at Pullman Sydney Olympic Park. Eliza and Joseva make it such a warm, welcoming place that you look forward to going back. Their hospitality adds a real sense of comfort and familiarity. The location, right by Accor Stadium and in the middle of major events, gives the hotel a lively feel. The team do what they can to lift your mood, and that warmth stays with you after checkout. Benjamin Nesbitt manages the hotel. You don't see him around, but everything runs smoothly, which feels like a sign of strong leadership and a confident team. The location, smooth operations, and genuine warmth make this one of those rare stays that leaves you feeling cared for, energised, and uplifted.

We were there for an event at Accor Stadium, so the location worked well for us. The room was clean and well equipped, but the air conditioning barely cooled it. I was very disappointed that we couldn't reserve a parking space and ended up parking a 30-minute walk away. There are very few spaces, allocated first come, first served, even if you ask when booking your room.

We stayed one night at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park for the Lady Gaga concert. The room was comfortable, with only minor wear and tear that needs attention. Parking onsite was easy, there were plenty of spaces, and the price was very reasonable. We enjoyed the welcome drink at the bar, and the buffet breakfast had a good selection. The food and beverage staff were polite and attentive. The only real downside was check-in. As high-level Platinum Members, now Diamond, we used the Gold/Platinum/Diamond desk off to the side of the lobby. The young woman was lovely, but seemed new and couldn't answer basic questions, like whether breakfast was complimentary with our loyalty status. Even if she was covering someone's break, managers should have someone who knows the hotel and its offering well at that desk, so loyalty guests get proper service. We'd stay at this Novotel again.

The kitchen floor was sticky, there was popcorn on the carpet, and the dishes in the cupboard still had food on them. Dust was about an inch thick around the room, including on the carpet, and the walls were visibly dirty. I get that rooms turn over quickly, but surely they could get a deeper clean from time to time. This one clearly hadn't been cleaned properly in a very long time. At $660 a night, I expected better. I'll never stay again.