Accidental Career Leads to Successful Company
Nine years ago, Paul Fischmann (now 32 years old) was working for a real estate developer when he suddenly found himself in charge of a 100-room, 3.5 star Sydney hotel. Although the developer purchased the property with the aim of selling off the floors as residential apartments, the local city council did not approve the plan. So with no hotel experience, the two became instant hoteliers.

With that endeavour proving to be a great success, Mr Fischmann moved on to succeed in Australia’s booming backpacker hostel industry and rapidly built a business with over 500 beds in five locations. It was those experiences that paved the way for his new venture, Eight Hotels, a young, vibrant and forward thinking company that aims to fill a growing demand for boutique hotels in Australia.

And to fill the gap, he has, with a portfolio of seven properties and counting, Eight Hotels has built its reputation as Australia’s pre-eminent boutique hotel specialist.




At it’s inception in 2003, Eight Hotels (then unnamed) had a total of 14 rooms and one hotel. Five years on, there are seven hotels and a grand total of 483 rooms. The company took $500,000 in revenue in that first year. By mid 2008 the company will have over $20,000,000 in annual sales.

With current ownership of four of Sydney and Melbourne’s most popular boutique hotels (including the world renowned Kirketon in Darlinghurst and St Kilda’s Cosmopolitan Hotel), the recent opening of the contemporary 77-room Diamant Hotel Sydney and with imminent openings of the Pensione Hotel Melbourne and the Diamant Hotel Canberra, the Eight Hotels group is thriving and has proved that Paul’s initial predictions were on track. And the company has no plans of slowing down with plans to take the company to international locations.



Mr Fischmann said, “Our long term vision is simple, to build a boutique hotel collection whose brands span the aspirations of all markets and demographics offering essentially four core attributes to guests: prime locations; contemporary interiors; world-class hospitality and, most importantly for Fischmann, unparalleled value.”

Australia’s Pre-eminent Boutique Hotels

The Diamant Hotels
The Diamant brand is the flagship of the Eight Hotels’ collection. It is poised to set a new standard in boutique hotel accommodation reflecting Eight Hotel’s commitment and vision. In continuing with the Eight Hotels’ ethos of quality and value, the Diamant Hotels will be the most compatibly priced luxury hotel in their markets. The first Diamant hotel, opened in Sydney at the beginning of October. It is a premier 77-room luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. The second Diamant hotel to open is due early next year in Canberra. Similarly, this 75-room property is located on the doorstep of Canberra’s key cultural, commercial and entertainment facilities.

The Altamont Hotel
It was the tranquil ambience of the Altamont area that originally modeled the current unique and evolutionary nature of the current Eight Hotels collection. Located in Sydney, the Altamont is set amidst a 1830s mansion in the heart of Darlinghurst. This hotel has been host to some of the world’s most famous people and since mid 2002, it has been reposition to meet the needs of the budget traveler.




The Kirkton Hotel
Since Eight Hotels acquired the hotel in 2003, the Kirkton has experienced exponential growth in occupancy levels. Located only minutes from Oxford Street and Kings Cross, the Kirkton has been voted one of the ‘coolest’ boutique hotels. The complex has won numerous awards for its style, glamour and comfort.

The Pensione Hotel
Modeled on the glamour of the original European pensione hotels, the Pensione Hotel Sydney and the Pensione Hotel Melbourne combine turn of the century building features with modern design. The Pensione brand has been specifically designed to suit the budget conscious traveller and since the Pensione Hotel Sydney opening for business in 2004, it has experienced remarkable trade. With its location right in the heart of Sydney, the Pensione Hotel Sydney has proven to be a major force in the Eight Hotels brand.

The Cosmopolitan Hotel
This hotel stands out because of its architectural design, comfort and value for money. Located in the heart of Melbourne’s art district, St Kilda, the Cosmopolitan combines style, design and comfort.



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