Work is now underway in the regional Victorian hub of Geelong on a new mixed-use development which will see the introduction of the Holiday Inn brand to the burgeoning city.
Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong will be the anchor tenant in the new ‘Geelong Quarter’ mixed-use building, which will also include ground-level retail and an integrated residential development, which will share in the use of the Holiday Inn’s hotel facilities.
The 180-room hotel will include 23 suites and marks the first newbuild hotel to rise in the regional city in two decades. Guests will be able to take advantage of an all-day restaurant and bar, swimming pool, fitness centre, underground parking and several flexible meeting and function spaces, including an event centre.
IHG Hotels and Resorts VP Development – Japan, Australasia and Pacific, Abhijay Sandilya, said he was excited for the growth of Holiday Inn in Geelong.
“Geelong is a fantastic destination and an important hub for business, but what it’s always been lacking until now is a great hotel.
“We know that the world-famous Holiday Inn brand will attract business and leisure travellers from around Australia as people explore their backyard and, as borders reopen, the world. We are committed to growing in both city and regional destinations like Geelong, and this opening will continue our growth journey which includes Holiday Inn hotels in great locations like Werribee, Richmond, Ringwood, Wagga Wagga and Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall,” he added.
With manufacturing a key pillar in the ongoing growth and future of Geelong, significant levels of new housing, commercial and community infrastructure is now well underway in the second-tier city outside of Melbourne to cater to a sustained spike in metropolitan migration, with large numbers of people opting for a ‘sea change’ and departing the major cities.
According to Tourism Greater Geelong, the Bellarine region is anticipating visitation levels to climb from 6 to 7.5 million by 2027, which means the city of Geelong will need neatly 2,500 new guest rooms to allow visitors to stay longer and spend more. The city is currently undertaking studies on how to encourage and promote visitation beyond day-trip visitors into stays up to three days.
“Our approach over the last couple of years is that Geelong CBD lacks accommodation on scope and scale and part of the Tourist Development Plan is to realise the need for accommodation rooms within urban Geelong and Holiday Inn helps to provide that opportunity,” said Tourism Greater Geelong, Bellarine Executive Director, Brett Ince.
Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong is currently on track to open in 2022.