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OWCA
Staying on top, remaining connected
Throughout his many years of travelling, James Fry (OW1998) noticed most hotels presented guests with indistinguishable rooms, boring food options and unsurprising tour guide offerings.
He saw an opportunity to change that, creating Notel, an accommodation experience that encourages visitors to ‘choose their own adventure’ and discover Melbourne as a local.
Notel Melbourne comprises six beautiful American chrome Airstream trailers. Stunning, uber-chic and superbly comfortable, these urban retreats mix beauty with technology, capturing a unique, space-age aesthetic.
Remarkably located on a rooftop above Flinders Lane, in the middle of Melbourne’s CBD, Notel offers an extraordinarily glamorous and entirely different type of accommodation experience.
After leaving Wesley, James got straight into the OWCA network by playing football with Collegians Football Club. ‘I played for more than 10 years and I loved it,’ he says. ‘I loved the competition, my teammates and the game of footy, but most of all, the network. I really enjoyed mixing with past players and those involved in the club, listening to their life and business stories, their successes and failures.’
Remaining connected to OWs shed a huge light on his business decisions. ‘It taught me a lot and shaped me into the person I am today. The Wesley network has definitely helped me in my businesses along the way, and still does,’ he said.
Over the years, James has employed up to fifty OWs of various ages across his businesses, including Notel Melbourne. Recently, James listed NOTEL Melbourne on the OWConnect Business Directory and reflects, ‘As well as creating a personal profile in the Directory, I’m looking forward to seeing the leads it creates for my business portfolio.’
We’ve learnt that a night at Notel is about exploration. Melbourne’s best restaurant options, plus a great selection of bars, cafes and galleries are all nearby, and for out of towners, it’s a less than 10-minute walk from Federation Square, ACMI and the NGV Ian Potter Gallery, and only a few more to the Arts Precinct. Southern Cross Station is less than 750m away for train, bus and airport shuttles. As James says, NOTEL is NOT a hotel, but an experience.
