Sunday 18 October 2026
Live
ZOTPAPER

News without the noise

ZOTPAPER
Business

IHG expands luxury hotel portfolio across Australia ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup

InterContinental, Regent and Staybridge Suites brands to launch or transform in Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources3 outlets
IHG Hotels & Resorts is investing in a wave of luxury hotel transformations across Australia, including converting Brisbane's former Hilton into an InterContinental and returning the ultra-luxury Regent brand to Melbourne, as it signs on as Official Hotel Partner for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

IHG Hotels & Resorts is making a significant push into the Australian luxury market, with a series of hotel conversions and new brand launches timed to coincide with the 2027 Rugby World Cup, for which it has signed as Official Hotel Partner. The World Cup begins in Perth on October 1, 2027, and will be held across seven Australian cities.

In Brisbane, the former Hilton on Queen Street Mall, a Harry Seidler-designed landmark, is being transformed into InterContinental Brisbane. The multimillion-dollar refurbishment, designed by Woods Bagot, includes a revitalised atrium, new restaurants including an Argentinian grill, a new Club InterContinental lounge and expanded wellness facilities. The hotel will remain open during renovations, which are scheduled to finish by early 2028.

In Melbourne, an agreement with developer Salter Brothers will see the riverside Crowne Plaza become an InterContinental with a rooftop restaurant, club lounge and bathhouse. Separately, the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto will be converted into Regent Melbourne by 2030, bringing the ultra-luxury brand back to Australia after a 28-year absence.

The Crowne Plaza site in Canberra will be redeveloped to accommodate both an InterContinental, featuring suites and a rooftop lounge overlooking Parliament House, and a new Hotel Indigo. IHG is also introducing its extended-stay Staybridge Suites brand to Australia.

The company's investment in bricks and mortar is paired with its sponsorship of Rugby World Cup 2027, which will bring tens of thousands of visitors to host cities. IHG's expanded portfolio is positioned to capture demand from both event attendees and the broader travel market.

§

Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The hotel upgrades and new brands give Australian and international travellers more luxury accommodation options in three key cities.
  • The Rugby World Cup partnership ties hospitality infrastructure directly to a major sporting event, potentially boosting tourism revenue and visitor numbers.
  • The return of the Regent brand to Melbourne signals confidence in the strength of the Australian luxury market.

Background

IHG Hotels & Resorts is one of the world's largest hotel groups, with brands ranging from budget to ultra-luxury. The 2027 Rugby World Cup will be the first held in Australia since 2003 and is expected to draw significant international visitation across Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and other host cities. The company's decision to invest in conversions and new builds in Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra reflects a strategy to align its physical footprint with major event demand and long-term growth in Australian business and leisure travel.

Key Perspectives

[IHG Hotels & Resorts]: The company is expanding its luxury and lifestyle offerings to capture high-end travellers and event-related demand. The multi-city investment shows a long-term commitment to the Australian market. [Travellers and event attendees]: Visitors to the Rugby World Cup and future travellers will benefit from upgraded hotels, new dining concepts and more choice across price points, from extended-stay Staybridge Suites to ultra-luxury Regent. [Local communities and businesses]: Hotel redevelopments create construction jobs and ongoing hospitality employment, though renovation disruptions and potential price increases may affect nearby residents and smaller competitors.

What to Watch

  • Completion of the InterContinental Brisbane conversion, due early 2028.
  • The transformation of InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto into Regent Melbourne, expected by 2030.
  • Launch of the IHG Staybridge Suites brand in Australia and any additional IHG developments announced before the Rugby World Cup.
  • Occupancy rates and room pricing in host cities as the World Cup approaches.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

How we workSubscribe