The 557-room Hilton Sydney has reopened after a comprehensive AU$200m (125m euro, £86m, US$153m) refurbishment programme.

The revamp, which took nearly three years to complete, included a rooftop to basement rebuild and the hotel now boasts one of Australia’s largest hotel conference facilities.

Oded Lifschitz, vice president of Hilton International Australasia, said: “Every single aspect of Hilton Sydney is a complete rethink – from design, to people and services, food and beverage, wine, uniforms, communication and events and conferencing.”

New South Wales minister for tourism, sport and recreation, Sandra Nori, said: “The facilities offered by the re-designed Hilton Sydney will be part of the NSW government’s promotion of Sydney domestically and internationally.”

The hotel closed for the revamp in November 2002.