Wednesday 21 May 2025, Sydney, Australia: IHG Hotels & Resorts has reinforced its leading position in Luxury & Lifestyle hospitality in Australia by signing a major long-term agreement with Salter Brothers.
Several high-profile IHG hotels will be rebranded and repositioned within the company’s portfolio of luxury brands – with Regent Hotels & Resorts set to return to Australia after 28 years when Regent Melbourne completes its transformation from InterContinental Melbourne in 2030.
IHG’s strategic Luxury & Lifestyle expansion also sees three of its highly popular and successful properties joining its InterContinental brand. The trio of hotels will bolster the growth of the world’s first and largest luxury hotel brand:
- Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach to InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach;
- Crowne Plaza Melbourne to InterContinental Melbourne;
- The Crowne Plaza Canberra site is to be redeveloped into the new InterContinental Canberra. A second hotel will also be developed on this site, to bring Hotel Indigo to Canberra.
voco Gold Coast, which was the first voco hotel to open globally and another IHG / Salter Brothers collaboration, will undergo a refurbishment and expansion of its leisure facilities.
Matt Tripolone, IHG Hotels and Resorts Managing Director, Australasia Pacific, said: “We are delighted to announce an extended long-term agreement with Salter Brothers, which further strengthens our existing, highly successful relationship. 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 & Lifestyle position in the country.
“Overall, this agreement underscores the strength and evolving nature of Australia’s hotel market and highlights the growing trend for conversions in our industry as guests increasingly seek immersive Luxury & Lifestyle experiences across the country.
Paul Salter, Managing Director, Salter Brothers, said: “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. This new agreement represents over $1bn investment in the Luxury & 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.”
IHG / Salter Brothers hotel portfolio:
- InterContinental Melbourne the Rialto will transform into the reimagined Regent brand, representing the epitome of modern upper luxury with Regent Melbourne, blending timeless heritage with cutting-edge design within the historic Rialto building. The precinct will be redeveloped to create a landmark destination in Melbourne’s CBD including extensive conference and event spaces, multiple restaurants and bars and a destination spa and Regent Club, in a location that combines the best of historic and contemporary design.
- Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach is currently closed for an extensive re-imagining to InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, opening in late 2025. Key features include an incredible pool deck with uninterrupted stunning views of Coogee Beach, a new spa and wellness facility, beach fronting Club InterContinental and a new signature restaurant featuring an internationally renowned restaurant group.
- Crowne Plaza Canberra will see an exciting redevelopment of the site to create a new precinct for InterContinental Canberra and Hotel Indigo Canberra. InterContinental Canberra will feature a rooftop Club InterContinental Lounge and Suites with sweeping views to Parliament House, as well as offering extensive conference and event spaces together with a signature restaurant and luxury day spa facility.
- Hotel Indigo Canberrawill bring a boutique lifestyle brand to the Canberra market offering a personalised and curated experience reflecting on the richness of the local area.
- Crowne Plaza Melbourne will elevate into InterContinental Melbourne featuring destination rooftop facilities comprising of a Club InterContinental Lounge and a Michelin inspired restaurant and bar, all with sweeping views of the Yarra River and Port Philip Bay. A new spa and wellness facility will be offered with the city’s first bathhouse, all delivered in Melbourne’s best positioned hotel on the Yarra’s edge.
- voco Gold Coast, the first voco to open globally, will undergo a refurbishment and an expansion of its leisure facilities to create a new hinterland facing pool deck and bar, and a kids club providing fun experiences from tiny tots to teenagers.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has 76 hotels in Australasia operating under nine brands – Six Senses, InterContinental, Kimpton, Vignette Collection, Hotel Indigo, voco, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, with another 26 properties in its development pipeline.
Images can be found here.