Pro-invest Group will transform its recently-acquired Primus Hotel Sydney into Australia’s first Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants property, announcing today plans to reflag the property under the luxury IHG brand.
An agreement has been signed between the two parties to open the 172-room Kimpton Sydney in October 2021 following a refurbishment at the historic 1930s style Sydney CBD property, which was acquired from Greenland Australia earlier this year. The signing takes the IHG Hotels & Resorts Australasian pipeline to 35 properties across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
One of the pioneering labels behind the boutique lifestyle hotel concept, Kimpton hangs its hat on a commitment to creating genuine human connections through heartfelt service and thoughtful perks and amenities. Its key brand philosophies include forward-thinking design, celebrating meetings and events and bringing guests together through its nightly Social Hour.
The Kimpton brand has been growing strongly in recent years, with 32 locations in the global pipeline and 73 more already open around the world.
IHG Managing Director Australasia and Japan, Leanne Harwood, said she couldn’t hide her excitement at being able to introduce the Kimpton Hotels brand in Australia.
“We are very mindful of how special the Kimpton brand is, and that’s why it [has] 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,” she said.
“The Primus Sydney property oozes Kimpton character [and] 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.”
“We are so proud to have such a great long-term partnership with Pro-invest that already includes 13 open or pipeline hotels across three IHG brands, and we look forward to continuing that growth together.”
Kimpton Sydney will inherit a rooftop swimming pool, naturally lit conference and event spaces and a stylish lobby which features striking red pillars. The hotel will introduce a variety of culinary experiences to Australia based on locally loved restaurants, with the property set to offer a café, lobby bar and rooftop restaurant.
The brand’s signature complimentary lifestyle experiences, including morning yoga lessons, bike rentals and ‘kickstart coffee and tea’ will be available, while evenings will be celebrated with Kimpton Social Hour, where guests can come together to enjoy a glass of wine. The hotel will also be pet friendly, with guests able to bring their companions to enjoy their stay with them.
Pro-invest Group co-CEO, Jan Smits, said he was pleased to be building further on the long-standing and strong partnership with IHG Hotels and Resorts.
“Such a uniquely beautiful and historic hotel called for a brand that would bring the guest experience to life, and as each Kimpton hotel is a hotel-of-one, individually designed to blend the surrounding environment with local culture, offering guests an authentic and playful experience, we knew it was the right choice,” Smits said.
Pro-invest Group is the Master Franchise holder for IHG’s Holiday Inn Express brand and operates seven properties in Australia and New Zealand, with six more coming under this and other brands including voco, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Hotel Indigo.