A third signing in just over a year
IHG Hotels & Resorts has expanded its strategic partnership with Urban Property Group (Urban) by announcing the signing of two new properties in New South Wales: the Crowne Plaza Newcastle and the Hotel Indigo Gosford. The announcement brings to three the number of hotels jointly developed by the two groups in the state.
The agreement builds on the Crowne Plaza Parramatta, signed in 2025, and marks a new step in a relationship that now spans both metropolitan and regional markets across New South Wales. It strengthens the growth of IHG’s portfolio in the state, one of the most dynamic in the country for hotel investment.
The group has also consolidated its presence in the Australian market through an expanded partnership with ALAND (IHG and ALAND sign landmark agreement to launch Staybridge Suites in Australia) [FLAG: internal link to LTH French URL — no confirmed THT English equivalent found], as well as the recent signing of the Holiday Inn Express Cockburn in Western Australia [FLAG: internal link to LTH French URL — no confirmed THT English equivalent found], confirming a nationwide growth trajectory.
Crowne Plaza Newcastle, at the heart of a multimodal hub
The Crowne Plaza Newcastle, due to open in late 2029, will form one of the pillars of the mixed-use development led by Urban immediately adjacent to Newcastle Interchange station. The 171-room property will occupy a 43-storey tower alongside 219 residential apartments.
The hotel will offer all-day dining, a lobby bar, as well as a pool and landscaped public spaces. It will also feature more than 550 sqm of meeting and event space, including a 425 sqm ballroom, positioning the property as premium infrastructure for the region’s corporate and events clientele.
Newcastle is undergoing a period of sustained transformation, driven by significant infrastructure investment, continued population growth and the expansion of its business, events and tourism economy. The new Crowne Plaza will strengthen a premium hotel offering and meetings & events capacity that remains limited in the city, as demand grows across the wider Hunter region.
Hotel Indigo Gosford, a lifestyle offering on the Central Coast
The Hotel Indigo Gosford, due to open in mid-2030, will form part of Urban’s Waterfront precinct. The 152-room property will offer views over Brisbane Water and will feature a neighbourhood café-bar, a rooftop pool and premium wellness facilities.
True to the brand’s identity, the design and guest experience at Hotel Indigo Gosford will draw on the history and character of the local neighbourhood. The Central Coast is one of New South Wales’ leading regional tourism destinations, supported by ongoing investment in Gosford’s town centre and waterfront.
The arrival of Hotel Indigo [FLAG: link points to a French-language IHG reservation page — likely needs an English-language equivalent] will introduce a new international lifestyle offering to this market and support the growth of the local tourism economy, in a city committed to its transformation into a commercial, residential and tourism hub.
A clear commitment to regional development
Matt Tripolone, Managing Director Australasia & Pacific at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said [FLAG: reported speech, pending verification of original English wording] that the group had signed three projects with Urban Property Group over the past twelve months, reflecting a shared strategic vision and an increasingly strong relationship between the two partners. He noted that Urban held a substantial development pipeline in New South Wales, opening up long-term joint growth opportunities.
He also said that regional development was an important strategic focus for IHG in Australia, particularly in markets benefiting from sustained investment in infrastructure, tourism and urban development, citing Newcastle and the Central Coast as economic and tourism hubs with strong potential for upscale international hotels.
For his part, Patrick Elias, Co-Managing Director of Urban Property Group, recalled [FLAG: reported speech, pending verification of original English wording] that the partnership with IHG had developed rapidly since the signing of the Crowne Plaza Parramatta the previous year. He described hospitality as a natural extension of the group’s residential, commercial and retail activities, enabling the creation of complete destinations to live, work and stay in, while supporting the long-term development of these areas.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
IHG expands Urban Property Group partnership to three hotels in New South Wales
Deal: two new signings – Crowne Plaza Newcastle and Hotel Indigo Gosford – build on the 2025 Crowne Plaza Parramatta agreement
Crowne Plaza Newcastle: 171 keys, opening late 2029, part of a 43-storey mixed-use tower with 219 residential apartments
Hotel Indigo Gosford: 152 keys, opening mid-2030, part of Urban’s Waterfront precinct on Brisbane Water
Facilities: Crowne Plaza Newcastle to include 550+ sqm of Meetings & Events space, including a 425sqm ballroom
Strategy: regional growth in NSW markets backed by sustained infrastructure and tourism investment
