Hilton APAC Area Vice President – Head of Australasia, Paul Hutton, discusses the entry of the iconic Waldorf Astoria brand to Australia.
As we emerge from the pandemic, we know that pent-up travel demand is real and the long-term future for travel is bright. With this, our growth and development momentum has not wavered, and our strategy to double our Australasian footprint within the next five years remains very much in our sights. We are always looking for opportunities to expand our luxury presence within the region.
Hilton’s development strategy is to introduce our world-class brands in key markets at the right time with the right partners, building on our extensive experience in delivering unmatched hospitality experiences. Australasia is one of those key markets, with our recent Waldorf Astoria Sydney signing exemplifying this commitment.
Sydney is a top-performing hotel market in Australia, so we are extremely thrilled to be introducing the iconic Waldorf Astoria brand to the city. The hotel will serve as the crown jewel of our growing pipeline portfolio of 13 properties in the region.
The luxury hotel brand, which began in New York City in 1893 with a single hotel that Conrad Hilton dubbed “The Greatest of Them All”, has grown into a portfolio of more than 30 iconic properties in the world’s most sought-after destinations.
Slated to open in Q4 2026, Waldorf Astoria Sydney’s location on Circular Quay is considered one of the prime harbourside locations in Australia, and nearly half of the 220 guest rooms will enjoy a direct view of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge.