New Crowne Plaza For Sydney, Two New Ritz-Carltons, Hard Rock Offers $99 Rooms & More

Ritz Carlton Koh Samui

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A round-up of some of the recent hotel news outside of the huge “Marriott to buy Starwood” news that’s dominated the travel scene recently. With a series of new hotels being announced by various chains and Cyber Monday rapidly approaching, there’s quite a bit going on in the hospitality industry right now.

IHG To Open New Crown Plaza In Sydney

IHG (the parent company of hotel chains like InterContinental and Holiday Inn) has announced a management agreement with a China-based developer to open a new 160-room Crowne Plaza hotel in the heart of Sydney.

The Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour will be in close proximity to the new Sydney International Convention Centre and will be within an easy walk of Circular Quay and The Rocks (Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House).

Neither IHG or the developer appear to have provided an exact location for the new Crowne Plaza Sydney but, as it’s to be in the Darling Harbour area, this is where I’d expect the hotel to be built:

Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour

According to the press release:

The new hotel will feature a range of business and meetings facilities including five meeting rooms and a 24-hour business centre. Guests can enjoy food and beverage at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant and unwind at the bar. To keep energised during their stay the fully equipped fitness centre and outdoor pool provide the ideal places to relax.

With plans only just having been finalised the hotel won’t be opening its doors to guests anytime soon – expect a 2019 opening – but, when it does, it will be a good addition to the IHG portfolio in Sydney. IHG already has a high-end InterContinental near Circular Quay and a Holiday Inn at the Rocks. The Crowne Plaza, if put together correctly, could be a nice middle-of-the-road option for IHG guests.

IHG Announces A New Hotel Indigo in London

In further IHG news, London is to get a new Hotel Indigo from 2017.

Hotel Indigo is one of IHG’s many brands and encapsulates 60+ boutique hotels which have been all brought in under one global brand name.  From IHG’s marketing:

Just as no two neighbourhoods are alike, no two Hotel Indigo properties are alike. They are each designed to reflect the local culture, character and history of the surrounding area. At Hotel Indigo we’re all about neighbourhoods, and take every opportunity to share them with our guests.
Hotel Indigo combines the individuality of a boutique hotel with the reliability of one of the world’s leading hotel companies.

The 207-room Hotel Indigo London – Aldgate will be located in Aldgate Place in East London:

Hotel Indigo London Aldgate Map

Disappointingly it’s not going to be a completely new location for IHG or even the Hotel Indigo brand as the Hotel Indigo London – Tower Hill (indicated by the pin on the map) will only be a short walk away.

Nevertheless more choice is always good and the Hotel Indigo London – Aldgate will be within convenient reach of both of London’s financial districts (Canary Wharf and The City) and the Tower of London, the Thames and the Southbank will all be walkable.

Ritz-Carlton Announces Two New Properties in Asia

In an unusual double-announcement, the Ritz-Carlton chain of hotels have announced a new property on the Thai island of Koh Samui as well as a further new property at the base of Mount Niseko-Annupuri, a popular Japanese ski region.

Ritz Carlton Koh SamuiProposed Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui – Image courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui will be located in the Choeng Mon area of the island (northern tip), with beautiful white sand beaches surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand. The resort is slated to have 187 luxurious guest rooms and pool villas with a collection of dining, wellness and recreational experiences and facilities. No completion date has been announced.

The Ritz-Carlton to be built at the base of Mount Niseko-Annupuri will form part of the more boutique-like Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand and will have just 50 rooms. Scheduled for completion in 2020 the resort will be located at the heart of the all-season Niseko Village, which is considered one of the world’s best ski resorts. The New York Times recently listed Niseko as one of the top 20 places to visit in the world, and Forbes Travel ranked Niseko among the world’s top 20 ski resorts.

Starwood To Open The Westin Brisbane Hotel

westin-brisbane-hotel

The new Westin Brisbane hotel is scheduled to open on 1 April 2018 on Mary St in the heart of Brisbane (adjacent to Starwood’s existing Four Points by Sheraton hotel.

The New Westin Brisbane HotelLocation of the new Westin Brisbane Hotel – adjacent to the Four Points by Sheraton

The hotel appears to be aimed at the business traveler with its convenient proximity to Brisbane’s corporate and financial centres. With 286 guestrooms, the Westin Brisbane will also house extensive leisure facilities including a resort-style swimming pool with a swim up bar, Starwood’s signature ‘Heavenly Spa’ day spa and a full gym.

In addition the hotel will have a 24-hour business centre as well as over 650 square metres of function and meeting space available for hire.

The Kiroro, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido Opens Its Doors

For anyone participating in, what I called, the most limited hotel promotion ever, this should be good news.

On 19 November, the Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido was declared open for guests and Starwood’s Tribute Portfolio brand had its 4th open property. Although the hotel has opened before its scheduled 4 December date it’s not all good news.

In the press release trumpeting the opening of the hotel the following line jumps out:

The hotel will undergo expansive renovation of its public spaces and guest rooms at the end of the current ski season, completing its refresh by September 2016.

So what have they been doing up until now?!

The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, HokkaidoThe Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido – image courtesy of Starwood

Clearly the hotel has been rushed into opening in time for the Japanese ski-season and that’s not too impressive. Would you want to stay in a hotel that was opened before the refurbishment was completed?

According to Starwood:

The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido features 282 spacious and stylish guest rooms and suites, as well as prime access to the ski resort mountain. In addition to a wide number of nearby dining options, the hotel features four different restaurant and bar destinations where guests can savor a variety of international cuisines, from authentic Italian dishes at the hotel’s signature restaurant, to casual buffet and a la carte dining at the hotel’s cafe. The hotel also boasts over 15,000 square feet of function space, including a grand ballroom and four meeting rooms.

Sounds pretty good but, if I were heading to Hokkaido on vacation for this ski season, I think I might choose a hotel that’s less likely to have teething issues.

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego Offers $99 Rates – Cyber Monday

The Hard Rock Hotel San Diego has announced its plans for a Black Friday/Cyber Monday room sale.

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday 27 November, through to midnight on Monday, 30 November, The Hard Rock Hotel San Diego will treat guests who book stays online at the Hard Rock website using Promo Code BF2015 to the lowest rates of the year starting from $99/night.

In addition to this, five lucky guests, who book stays between 27 and 30 November 2015, will have their rooms upgraded to one of the hotel’s famous Rock Star Suites. And one lucky guest will receive a New Year’s Eve package including dinner for two at Nobu San Diego and two tickets to Hard Rock Hotel’s legendary party.

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

Black Friday/Cyber Monday rates are bookable for dates from 27 November 2015 through to 31 January 2016. Certain blackout dates apply. Guests who win the Rock Star Suite upgrade and the one New Year’s Eve package winner will be notified by email or phone the week of Dec. 1.