Two signings to strengthen IHG’s presence beyond the major cities
IHG Hotels & Resorts is continuing to grow in Australia with the signing of two new hotels under its Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn & Suites brands, one in Tamworth, New South Wales, and the other in Rockhampton, Queensland.
The two projects were announced on 4 November 2026. They will eventually total 190 rooms and will be operated by La Vie Hotels & Resorts, an IHG partner that already operates in several Australian markets.
The two signings follow two complementary property strategies. In Tamworth, an existing hotel will be renovated and extended. In Rockhampton, a new hotel will be built as part of a mixed-use development.
For IHG, the deals are intended to expand Holiday Inn’s presence in regional destinations. Demand in these places comes from a mix of business travel, events, tourism and local industries.
Matt Tripolone, Managing Director Australasia & Pacific at IHG Hotels & Resorts, highlighted the role that good-quality hotels play in the economic development of these areas. He said both hotels will benefit from the group’s international distribution channels, its sales network and its IHG One Rewards loyalty programme.
Tamworth: a Best Western conversion with an extension to follow
The future Holiday Inn Tamworth will be created by converting the current Best Western Sanctuary Inn, a 60-room hotel.
The project includes a full refurbishment of the guest rooms, reception and restaurant. This work is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
A second phase, planned for 2029, will add 30 rooms, which will bring the hotel’s total capacity to 90 rooms.
The conversion will give IHG a Holiday Inn presence in a town where hotel demand is driven by several parts of the economy.
Tamworth is home to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, the highlight of its tourism calendar. The town is also a regional hub for agriculture, logistics, healthcare, education and public administration.
For owners, converting an existing hotel is a way to reposition the asset in its market while drawing on the brand recognition and sales and marketing tools of an international brand.
The extension planned for the second phase also shows a step-by-step approach to adding capacity.
Rockhampton: a new-build hotel within a mixed-use development
In Queensland, Holiday Inn & Suites Rockhampton will be built as part of a mixed-use development.
The hotel will have 100 rooms. Forty of these will be one- and two-bedroom suites, so the hotel can serve guests on short stays as well as those on extended stays.
The scheme will also include 350 sq m of conference and event space, a function room for up to 100 guests and an outdoor swimming pool.
This positioning reflects Rockhampton’s economy. The city is a major regional centre for natural resources, agriculture, commerce and tourism.
Placing a hotel within a mixed-use development is intended to bring a wider range of uses to the site. It should also make the accommodation, business activities and events work better together.
IHG did not give an opening date for Rockhampton in its announcement, unlike the Tamworth project.
La Vie Hotels & Resorts strengthens its partnership with IHG
Both hotels will be operated by La Vie Hotels & Resorts. The company’s growth in Australia has relied in part on partnerships with major international brands.
Jerry Xu, founder and CEO of La Vie Hotels & Resorts, highlighted how Holiday Inn’s commercial strength combines with his company’s knowledge of local markets.
He noted that Tamworth and Rockhampton are different markets, but both need hotels suited to business travellers, events and family stays.
The signings continue La Vie‘s growth in Australia, particularly in regional cities, and strengthen its relationship with IHG.
Under the announced structure, the international brand, the hotel operator and the asset owners each have a separate role. The owners have not been named, and the investment amounts have not been disclosed.
Holiday Inn: a heritage brand moving into new markets
Holiday Inn was founded in 1952. According to figures provided by IHG, it now has more than 1,260 hotels worldwide.
The brand’s broad, mid-market positioning combines accommodation, food and beverage, and shared spaces, which allows it to serve a variety of guests.
In Australia, its growth in regional centres shows that major international groups can extend their networks beyond the main cities by targeting local economies with varied sources of demand.
For IHG, the aim is also to extend the geographic reach of its distribution and loyalty systems, and to offer investors options suited to mid-sized projects.
The Tamworth and Rockhampton hotels are two different examples of this strategy. One adds value to an existing asset, and the other creates new hotel capacity.
IHG | AUSTRALIA DEVELOPMENT
• Two Holiday Inn signings in regional Australia
• 190 rooms planned across Tamworth and Rockhampton
• Tamworth: 60-room hotel conversion, expanding to 90 rooms by 2029
• Rockhampton: 100-room new-build hotel with 40 suites
• Both hotels to be operated by La Vie Hotels & Resorts
