IHG Hotels & Resorts expands partnership with Urban Property Group through two landmark NSW signings
Wednesday 16th September, Sydney, Australia: IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has expanded its strategic partnership with Urban Property Group (Urban) with the announcement of Crowne Plaza Newcastle and Hotel Indigo Gosford, growing the relationship to three hotels across New South Wales.
Building on Crowne Plaza Parramatta, signed in 2025, the agreement marks the next stage of a growing strategic relationship between IHG and Urban, spanning metropolitan and regional NSW and supporting IHG’s continued portfolio growth across the state.
The two hotels will anchor major mixed-use developments in Gosford and Newcastle, with Hotel Indigo introducing a distinctive lifestyle offering to the Central Coast and Crowne Plaza returning IHG to Newcastle with a significant premium hotel and meetings and events proposition.
Matt Tripolone, Managing Director, Australasia & Pacific, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “IHG has now signed three exciting new projects with Urban Property Group over the last 12 months, illustrating our shared strategic vision for the sector and the growing strength in our partnership. Urban has a significant development pipeline across New South Wales, and we see considerable opportunity to grow together over the long term.
“Regional growth is an important part of our strategy in Australia, particularly in markets benefiting from sustained investment in infrastructure, tourism and major development. Newcastle and the Central Coast are both significant visitor and economic centres, and we see strong long-term potential for high-quality internationally branded hotels in these locations.
“Crowne Plaza Newcastle and Hotel Indigo Gosford are outstanding additions to our portfolio and very well suited to their respective markets. We are excited to return Crowne Plaza to Newcastle and to bring Hotel Indigo’s distinctive neighbourhood-led experience to the Central Coast for the first time.”
Patrick Elias, Co-CEO, Urban Property Group, said: “Our partnership with IHG has grown quickly since signing Crowne Plaza Parramatta last year, and these two new hotels represent an exciting next step.
“As Urban continues to evolve, hospitality is a natural extension of our residential, retail and commercial business, helping us create complete destinations and experiences. By integrating internationally recognised hotel brands into our major precincts, we are creating places that people can live, work, stay and connect, while supporting the long-term growth of these regions. We look forward to growing this partnership and delivering more opportunities together in the future.”
Crowne Plaza Newcastle, expected to open in late 2029, will form part of Urban’s landmark mixed-use development adjacent to Newcastle Interchange. The 171-room hotel will sit within the 43-storey development alongside 219 residential apartments and feature all-day dining, a lobby bar, more than 550sqm of Meetings & Events space, including a 425sqm ballroom, a pool and landscaped public spaces.
Newcastle is undergoing significant transformation, supported by major infrastructure investment, population growth and an expanding business, events and visitor economy. The new Crowne Plaza will add a significant premium accommodation and meetings offering to the city as demand continues to grow across the broader Hunter region.
Hotel Indigo Gosford, expected to open in mid-2030, will form part of Urban’s The Waterfront precinct. The 152-room hotel will feature views across Brisbane Water, a neighbourhood café and bar, rooftop pool and premium wellness facilities, with its design and guest experience drawing inspiration from the stories and character of the local neighbourhood.
The Central Coast is one of New South Wales’ major regional visitor destinations, with continued investment in Gosford’s CBD and waterfront supporting the city’s evolution as a commercial, residential and visitor hub. Hotel Indigo Gosford will bring a new internationally branded lifestyle offering to the market and support the region’s growing overnight visitor economy.
# # #
The IHG Owners Association, originally established by Holiday Inn Founder Kemmons Wilson in 1955, is the only association of its kind in the hotel industry. The global, not-for profit organization represents the interests of more than 5,000 owners of IHG Hotels & Resorts properties around the world. The Association helps strengthen members’ returns on their investments in IHG hotels by advocating on behalf of its members to IHG leadership on standards and initiatives related to hotel operations and issues facing the wider hospitality industry. The IHG family of brands includes Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, Vignette Collection, EVEN Hotels, HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, voco, Ruby Hotels, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Garner hotels, avid hotels, Staybridge Suites, Atwell Suites, Candlewood Suites and Iberostar Beachfront Resorts. For additional information, visit www.owners.org.