Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp., a subsidiary of Philippine-listed DoubleDragon Corporation, has signed definitive binding agreements to develop a 766-room hotel at 540 Flinders Lane in Melbourne’s central business district.
According to the company, the project – known as Hotel101-Melbourne – is scheduled for completion in 2029 and is projected to become the largest hotel in Melbourne by room count. Major existing hotels in the city currently operate with fewer rooms, and as of January 2026, there are no publicly announced hotel developments exceeding the proposed 766 rooms.
The development site at 540 Flinders Lane is located within walking distance of Flinders Street Station, Southern Cross Station, Federation Square, the Yarra River and the Southbank entertainment precinct, and lies within Melbourne’s free tram zone. The location places the hotel close to venues associated with major annual events such as the Australian Open, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Hotel101-Melbourne is planned to offer what the company describes as four-star-style amenities at an affordable price point. Proposed facilities include 24-hour reception, all-day dining, a swimming pool, gym, business centre, children’s pool, rooftop bar, conference facilities and on-site parking. The hotel is also expected to include meeting spaces and a conference centre aimed at business and events tourism.
The project is expected to generate approximately A$323.6 million (around ₱12.6 billion) in sales revenue through Hotel101’s “condotel” model, under which individual units are sold to investors during the construction phase and then operated as part of a standardised hotel network. The development is subject to customary national, state and local regulatory approvals.
Hotel101 Global is the international hospitality arm of DoubleDragon Corporation, whose principal shareholders include Injap Investments Inc., led by Mang Inasal founder Edgar Sia II, and Honeystar Holdings Corp., led by Tony Tan Caktiong. Mang Inasal is now fully owned by Jollibee Foods Corporation following Jollibee’s acquisition of the remaining shares from the Sia family in 2016.
In 2025, Hotel101 was reported as the first Filipino-owned company to list on the US Nasdaq Stock Exchange, following a transaction that valued the business at around US$2.3 billion and outlined plans to expand the brand to up to 100 countries worldwide. Hotel101 Global is also developing its first overseas project in Madrid, Spain, as part of its international expansion plans.
The Melbourne project marks Hotel101’s entry into the Australian market and represents the expansion of a Filipino-founded hotel brand into one of Australia’s major central business districts.
The announcement was welcomed by the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne. Philippine Consul General Jesus Domingo said the project highlighted the Philippines’ growing role as a source of international investment.
“The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne welcomes the announcement of Hotel101’s entry into the Melbourne hotel market and views this development as an important marker of the Philippines’ growing role as a source of international investment,” Domingo said.
He commended Hotel101 and its leadership for the clarity of their global vision in pursuing expansion into one of the world’s most competitive tourism destinations, describing the project as a significant breakthrough for Philippine enterprise in Melbourne.
Domingo said the development reflects the increasing confidence of Philippine businesses to compete in major global markets and underscores the country’s transition from a traditional investment destination to an active global investor. He added that the Consulate looks forward to the project’s contribution to deeper economic cooperation and people-to-people ties between the Philippines and Australia, particularly in Victoria, and affirmed the Consulate’s full support for the initiative.
For Filipino-Australians – many of whom are long-time fans of Jollibee and Mang Inasal – the project is likely to be seen as another milestone in the global expansion of Filipino brands, even as the community continues to anticipate the opening of Jollibee’s first Australian branch, with recent reports indicating plans for an initial store in Sydney’s Campbelltown.
