IHG is ramping up its luxury presence in Australia, in partnership with expanding luxury hotel owner Salter Brothers, transitioning three existing IHG hotels to the InterContinental brand and one existing InterContinental to its luxury Regent brand.
Under the plan, which involves substantial refurbishment, the existing InterContinental Melbourne the Rialto will be transformed into Regent Melbourne.
Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach will become the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, Crowne Plaza Melbourne will become InterContinental Melbourne and Crowne Plaza Canberra will become InterContinental Canberra, while a Hotel Indigo will be built in the same precinct in the national capital.
Both the forthcoming InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach and the InterContinental Melbourne will gain spa facilities, with the Melbourne property getting a bathhouse.
The transitioning of the Crowne Plaza Melbourne will bring another luxury property into close proximity to Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the hotel directly opposite the convention venue.
As under their current brands, Regent Melbourne and InterContinental Canberra will continue to feature extensive event space once they attain their elevated positioning.
Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach is already closed for its InterContinental transition and is expected to remain closed until the end of September, with renovations concluding in December.
“We are delighted to announce an extended long-term agreement with Salter Brothers, which further strengthens our existing, highly successful relationship,” said IHG’s managing director for Australasia and the Pacific, Matt Tripolone.
“This partnership accelerates IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle growth in Australia and enables Salter Brothers to reposition key assets and unlock long-term value in this space.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing our Regent Hotels & Resorts brand back to Australia after an absence of 28 years, with Regent Melbourne on track to welcome guests in 2030.
“With three InterContinental properties also on the horizon, and a new hotel, Hotel Indigo Canberra, in our sights, we’re delighted to have cemented our leading luxury and lifestyle position in the country.”
The repositioning of a clutch of Salter Brothers properties represents another strong move into Australia’s luxury accommodation landscape for the business. In recent years, Salter Brothers has acquired the majority of the Spicers portfolio, the entirety of the Escarpment Group’s assets, mostly located in the Blue Mountains, and the Bannisters properties in New South Wales. Salter Brothers also owns Sofitel Adelaide.
“We have a strong history with IHG spanning more than a decade, and are fully committed to our partnership which continues to drive growth for our assets,” said Salter Brothers’ managing director, Paul Salter.
“This new agreement represents over $1 billion investment in the luxury and lifestyle segment and highlights our conviction in providing distinctive lifestyle experiences for travellers globally, with an emphasis on timeless style, culinary mastery and wellness facilities for guests.
“We look forward to working with IHG throughout the journey of these exceptional hotels, and welcoming domestic and international guests to experience these incredible properties under their new brands in the coming years.”
Already this year, a new-build InterContinental has been announced for the Barossa Valley in South Australia, while the InterContinental is coming to Brisbane, taking over the former Hilton Brisbane.
