in 2014, metro hotels joined with an estimated two thirds of hotels across australia to cut back services over easter because of australias high penalty rates. the industry move was attacked by the head of the australian hospitality union, who described it as "an attack on australian values and the australian way of life". until 2017, metro hotels operated two hotels on pitt street, a major street in sydney. one of the hotels, the four star metro hotel on pitt, which the company had operated since 2003, was closed in september 2017 to make way for a station for the sydney metro.