In a strategic expansion move, IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) has announced ambitious plans to open the luxurious Crowne Plaza in Geelong. This is part of a collaborative effort with Plenary Group to augment IHG’s foothold in the city.

The colossal Crowne Plaza Geelong, boasting a luxurious 200-room capacity, is poised to start operation in 2026. This new development is a crucial element of the Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre precinct project, a significant facet of the Geelong City Deal. The deal is a joint initiative by the Australian and Victorian governments and the City of Greater Geelong to rejuvenate the region.

This multi-faceted redevelopment project, showcased last week, envisages constructing a state-of-the-art convention and exhibition centre. Highlights of the redevelopment plan include a 1,000-seat venue, dual grand exhibition spaces, several meeting rooms, conference facilities, and an array of versatile event spaces. Additionally, myriad retail spaces showcasing various hospitality services, a large public plaza, and the anticipated Crowne Plaza Hotel will invigorate the city’s waterfront while enhancing local tourism.

Promising to be a spectacle, the upcoming Crowne Plaza Geelong is set to comprise a vast range of suites up to a lavish 57 sqm, complete with a broad restaurant and bar area, along with a pool and gym. While it is planned to connect to the adjacent convention and exhibition centre, the hotel will offer meeting spaces that epitomize the grandeur of the Crowne Plaza brand.

By opening the 180-room Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong in September this year, IHG aims to solidify its position as the most extensive international hotel operator in Geelong. This development continues IHG’s regional expansion in Victoria, which previously witnessed the inauguration of Holiday Inn Dandenong, Holiday Inn Werribee in 2021, and InterContinental Sorrento in 2022. Moreover, IHG will inaugurate six new hotels in Greater Melbourne next year, expanding its renowned brands like Crowne Plaza, voco, Hotel Indigo, and Holiday Inn.

In a statement, Cameron Burke, IHG Hotels & Resorts Director of Development for Australasia and Pacific, expressed his excitement about the upcoming partnership with Plenary Group and the extension of the Crowne Plaza brand across regional Victoria. He anticipated that the addition of Crowne Plaza would attract corporate and leisure travellers and serve as a testament to the growth opportunities they’re experiencing throughout metropolitan and regional markets.

John O’Rourke, Plenary Group Chair, highlighted the project’s immense potential for Geelong and the larger Bellarine and Surf Coast region to boost its reputation as a leading regional city, a tourism hotspot, and a business events and retail destination. He also expressed optimism about creating local job opportunities and the project’s contribution to Greater Geelong’s visitor and tourism economies [Plenary Group’s official statement link here].

Endorsing the project, Victorian Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing said, “This project is a game-changer for a rapidly growing region, generating hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars into the local economy…”

The Crowne Plaza brand has seen a resurgence in Australia over the past few years, with newly opened properties such as Crowne Plaza Adelaide, Crowne Plaza Hobart, and Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour, among others. With upcoming properties like Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton and Crowne Plaza Shell Cove Marina set to open in 2024 and Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa later this year, the brand’s future looks bright for Crowne Plaza.

Written by: Bridget Gomez

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