IHG Hotels and Resorts has announced plans to add the first hotel under its Kimpton brand in Australia.
The group said that “after years of anticipation”, the brand would debut in Sydney this October.
IHG has partnered with Pro-Invest Group to revamp and rebrand the existing Primus Sydney hotel as the Kimpton Sydney.
The heritage-listed 1930s Art Deco building is located on Pitt Street in the city’s central business district, and was formerly the Sydney Water Board Building.
IHG said that the property “almost sings with Kimpton personality”, adding that “Its bold design, iconic red columns and boutique luxury personality will embody the brand perfectly and, once it has completed the revamp of its lobby, guest rooms and F&B, it will be undoubtedly a brand-defining flagship product for the region”.
Kimpton Sydney will offer 172 rooms, as well as a rooftop pool and restaurant, a lobby bar, café, and conference and vents space.
IHG and Pro-Invest first partnered together for the opening of Australia’s first Holiday Inn Express in Sydney’s Macquarie Park in 2016, and now have a portfolio of seven properties under the brand, as well as six hotels in the pipeline under IHG’s Voco, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Express and Kimpton brands.
Commenting on the news Leanne Harwood, IHG’s managing director – Australasia, Japan and Pacific, said:
“I can’t tell you how excited we are to finally bring the Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants brand to Australia. We are very mindful of how special the Kimpton brand is, and that’s why it’s been so important to us that we only bring it to market with the right owner and when we have the perfect property to bring it to life.
“The Primus Sydney property oozes Kimpton character, as soon as we saw it, we knew it had to wear the Kimpton badge, and we are so glad Pro-invest agrees and has put its full weight behind the brand.”
IHG purchased Kimpton in 2014, and has gradually expanded the brand beyond its US roots, with hotels under development in Asia-Pacific destinations including Bali, Suzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nanjing, Sanya and Kuala Lumpur.
