Carlton gets an international hotel

The Italian-accented Melbourne suburb of Carlton has its first international hotel brand. Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton, owned by Pelligra Group, has just opened.

Located on Swanston Street on the fringe of Melbourne CBD and overlooking Lincoln Square, the hotel is part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts stable.

It has 107 rooms, a flexible lobby, Fico Carlton Restaurant and Bar, and over 270sqm of meetings space.

The hotel is being promoted as "a vibrant cosmopolitan hub" and is in the heart of Melbourne’s "Innovation District".

The lobby bar and restaurant celebrate Carlton’s historic Italian influence, while the rooftop venue has views of the Melbourne skyline.

New Central Coast precinct aims to scale the heights

The rapidly growing Central Coast region north of Sydney will welcome a new hotel and lifestyle precinct this summer.

voco Gosford & The Archibald Precinct will make its official debut on December 1, featuring the Central Coast's highest rooftop bar and ballroom.

At the centre of it all is Astra, the rooftop bar and Japanese dining concept perched on Level 28 that is being promoted as the region's new destination for sky-high cocktails and fire-driven dining.

voco Gosford, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' premium portfolio, will add a new vibe to the heart of Gosford.

The hotel's 130 guest rooms draw inspiration from the surrounding landscape as well as voco's three brand hallmarks of 'Come on in', 'Me time' and 'voco life'.

How very hip.

I'm told "each guest room offers vibrantly playful interiors that include plush sustainable bedding, modern bathrooms and sweeping views across the city or bay, with most opening out to private balconies".

Among the highlights are a podium-level swimming pool with a swim-up bar, an on-site wellness centre and six dining and bar experiences. 

As part of The Archibald Precinct, family-friendly watering hole Archies will be home to two dining experiences: Ironbark Kitchen with modern Australian cuisine and pub grub, and Paolo's with hand-rolled pasta, trattoria-style dishes and wood-fired pizza. 

The jewel in the crown will be Astra, the Central Coast's highest rooftop bar and Japanese inspired izakaya. 

At the heart of the experience will be the hibachi grill, using premium binchōtan charcoal to sear meats and seafood before they are finished in a charcoal oven. 

Bookings for the hotel and restaurants open from November 12, ahead of the official launch on December 1. 

voco Gosford joins a growing collection of over 107 voco hotels globally, including six in Australia and New Zealand.

For bookings, and more info see https://thearchibald.com.au/

Coogee to welcome game changing international hotel

For a city with dozens of outstanding beaches, Sydney has surprisingly few international hotels taking advantage.

That makes the imminent opening - in December - of the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach an exciting announcement for both locals and visitors.

The new hotel from IHG Hotels and Resorts will welcome guests to 198 guest rooms including 22 suites. The vibe is "sophisticated beachfront living".

Being promoted as "Sydney’s only luxury beachfront hotel located within 20 minutes of the city", InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach will showcase the oceanfront location with floor-to-ceiling windows and breezy open-air spaces.

In March, a leisure deck featuring the ocean-facing infinity edge swimming pool, poolside bar, outdoor event terrace Day Spa will open, along with Club InterContinental.

The culinary epicentre will be Shutters Restaurant & Bar which promises modern Australian cuisine with Mediterranean influences.

 
This will sit alongside the Australian flagship restaurant – Rick Stein at Coogee Beach with the celebrity chef bringing his signature seaside dining style to Sydney with a restaurant, bar dining and courtyard terrace.

Guests can begin their mornings with sunrise yoga by the sea or an invigorating game of pickleball on the hotel's dedicated courts, discover Coogee's coastal paths or indulge in breakfast delivered to their room with a view.

The project strengthens the influence of IHG and property owners Salter Brothers luxury footprint across Australia and signals a continued investment in high-end coastal hospitality.

See https://coogeebeach.intercontinental.com/