Change is coming...

If you had asked us a couple of years ago if one day S. Group directors, Sam Haberle and Tara Howell would be developing their own Launceston accommodation, we would have said 'hell no'.

Change Overnight is a new 18-room hotel in Launceston. Every night a guest stays at Change allows them to give back to the world and they, in turn, are promised ‘a better night’s sleep’.

Making the world a better place, one night at a time is the concept and driving force behind Change Overnight. In a world where we’re spoilt for positive choices – cruelty-free this, biodegradable that – we wondered if we could find a way to make an impact, even while we’re sleeping.

This is where Change Overnight (or just call it Change) comes into play.

At first glance, Change appears to be Launceston’s latest trendy hotel, with all the bells and whistles in technology and interior design touches. Dig a little deeper though and you’ll find a social enterprise.

Upon booking a stay in one of the 18 rooms, guests are invited to select either a studio apartment, one or two-bedroom apartment or three-bedroom penthouse. Next step? As well as selecting a check-in time or whether you’d like to reuse your towel, guests are invited to choose a cause they would like to give back to during their stay.

Founders, Sam Haberle and Tara Howell of S. Group and Blue Derby Pods Ride, conjured up the idea behind Change Overnight in early 2018 while dreaming of ways they could extend their mission to make a positive impact on our world.

“Through this venture, we’re hoping to open people’s eyes up to the positive impact they can have,” says Haberle. “We know the world’s problems can’t actually be changed overnight, but an individual can make a difference to a cause, one purchase decision at a time. We hope that our guests will continue to make choices that will help change the world long after they check out.”

Momentum gathered and before they knew it, they had joined forces with Launceston entrepreneurs Toby Wilkin and Marcel Anstie to bring the project to life. Together they discussed the merits of numerous charitable organisations and ideas on what a stay could contribute to each cause.

Above (from left to right): Directors Toby Wilkin, Tara Howell, Sam Haberle and Marcel Anstie.

“We thought long and hard about which organisations we wanted to support and settled on ones that were close to our hearts”, says Howell.

Among the eight causes guests can choose to support are the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission, an orphanage located in Banbasa, India, where one night’s stay contributes 210 nutritious breakfasts for the children of the orphanage. For guests passionate about the environment, one night’s stay can protect approximately 10m² of land in Tasmania through the Tasmanian Land Conservancy.Guests can also support people in need of mental health assistance with one night’s stay funding a phone call from a person in need to Beyond Blue.

The business model behind the hotel is believed to be a world-first and utilises the award-winning design resources of S. Group for architecture, brand and marketing.

“Alongside the uniqueness of the business model, the brand experience for the guest is something we are really excited about. Naturally, our brand, which will thread through the architecture and marketing, is all about change. Imagine intriguing, bold and thought-provoking all in one” says Howell.

Change Overnight is now taking pre-bookings before opening to the public in July 2019.

We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to a media event at S. Group’s Launceston office, Level 1, 10-14 Paterson Street, Launceston on Friday 5th April 2019 at 9:30am.