Queensland will play host to the second milestone for IHG Hotels and Resorts’ sustainability-focused brand, voco Hotels, with the recent signing of the brand’s newest Australian location in Brisbane now confirmed as the 50th in its short history.
Around 80 kilometres from where the brand came to life for the first time, voco Brisbane City Centre will become the brand’s 50th hotel when it opens later this year. Rewind back to 2018 and the brand celebrated its global debut as doors opened to voco Gold Coast in grand style.
In that time, voco has expanded rapidly in Australia with locations either open or confirmed to open in the Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley, Melbourne Central, South Melbourne and Sydney, with another on the way in Auckland.
popped up in major first and second-tier cities and key regional centres across the world, including in Asia, North America, the Middle East and Europe. The brand has popped up in Dubai, Doha, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Milan, The Hague, Nanjing, Hangzhou, New York and more.
The brand has proven as popular with owners as it has with guests, with a commitment to being different catching attention among investors and helping the brand gain strong footholds in the markets in which it opens. Elements such as having local hosts on hand to help guests make the most of their day and gestures such as a welcome treat
IHG Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, Luxury and Upscale Brands, Jane Mackie, said voco has the ability to hold the informality of an independent hotel while still having the backing of a giant in the hotel industry in IHG.
VIDEO: Check out the growth story of IHG’s voco brand.
“Our voco brand has seen extraordinary growth since launching in Australia only two and a half years ago,” Mackie said.
“With its entry into the US and China last year, we’re excited about the growth potential for this brand and its unique offer for owners and guests. By focusing on celebrating each hotel’s individual spirit and character, this makes it easier and faster for owners to move from signing to opening, providing a real advantage in today’s market.”
The brand’s Australian story is also far from being finished, with voco Auckland also opening this year, while Sydney Central and voco South Melbourne are both on the way and due to be opened in 2022 and 2025 respectively. Once open, they will take voco’s Australasian presence to seven hotels.