InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has confirmed plans to introduce its Holiday Inn Express brand to Australia, with the signing of a new property in Perth.
Set to open in 2015, the new-build 20-storey property will be located in the centre of the Western Australia city, overlooking the Swan River. Development of the AU$35 million (US$37m) budget hotel is expected to commence later this year.
“There is real investment potential in Perth hotels at the moment, with the mining capital of Australia experiencing soaring room rates and a shortage of guest rooms. The CBD hasn’t seen a new hotel build for more than a decade, so we’re delighted to be working towards a solution for both business and leisure travellers to the city,” said Ralph Nunis, head of the property’s developer, Sunfire Asset. “The Holiday Inn Express business model also means we will be able to keep operational costs down and room rates at affordable levels.”
As a Holiday Inn Express hotel, the Perth property will offer modern rooms with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, along with a limited range of facilities such as a laundry and small meeting rooms.
“We’ve seen Holiday Inn Express grow exponentially in international markets over the last two decades, pointing to strong demand for such a brand from both guests and investors. We’ve been looking for the right location and the right partner to launch the brand with here in Australia. We’re confident Holiday Inn Express will do very well in Perth, among both leisure and business travellers,” said Phil Kasselis, head of development for IHG Australasia.
Holiday Inn Express will become the fourth IHG brand operating in Australia, following InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn. The Australia launch follows the brand’s recent expansion in Southeast Asia, with a series of new properties planned for Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
