Full house as Geelong’s newest and largest hotel opens

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA – Geelong’s newest and largest hotel, Crowne Plaza Geelong, is now open, full in its first weeks accommodating leisure guests and visitors travelling to the region for major events such as the Festival of Sails and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

A highlight of Geelong’s newest mixed-use waterfront precinct – also comprising the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre opening in July – the $130 million hotel is developed by Plenary and is being operated by IHG Hotels & Resorts under the Crowne Plaza brand. It is part of more than $260 million being invested by Plenary in the waterfront precinct in associated retail, commercial and mixed-use spaces.

Crowne Plaza Geelong General Manager John Dickson said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to be opening the doors to Crowne Plaza Geelong. To launch at a time when the city is buzzing with major events and welcoming visitors from near and far is incredibly exciting,” Mr Dickson said.

“The Crowne Plaza brand is centered around bringing people together, whether they are travelling for sport, business or leisure, or meeting locally to dine and connect. From day one, our focus has been on creating a hotel that feels connected to Geelong, its waterfront and its community. Seeing the hotel come to life with a full house during opening week is exactly what we hoped for.”

The hotel features 200 rooms and suites designed with refined comfort in mind, offering views across the bay or city outlooks. Warm textures, coastal tones and contemporary details combine to create a calm, welcoming feel on arrival, complemented by commissioned artwork by local artist Kate Robertson.

Local food and drink offering are another highlight. A relaxed ground-floor café, Verde on Smythe, serves both hotel guests and locals, while the hotel’s first floor restaurant, Sociali Trattoria & Bar, offers an inviting neighbourhood ambiance with handmade pasta and pizza and other Italian favourites. On level ten, the Skyline bar is set to become a go-to for sunset cocktails and late-night snacks, pairing panoramic bay views with seasonal small plates, local wines, craft beers and small-batch gins.

Guests can maintain their routines with the hotel’s gym and an indoor heated pool.

For those travelling to meet, celebrate or collaborate, the hotel offers eight event spaces filled with natural light, contemporary design and offering waterfront views; flexible spaces that are suited to everything, from weddings and conferences to executive retreats.

Plenary Group CEO Paul Crowe said, “Projects like this come to life through strong collaboration, and we’ve been proud to work alongside IHG, the City of Greater Geelong and local stakeholders to deliver a hotel that complements the city’s vision for its waterfront.

“Crowne Plaza Geelong is the result of that shared commitment, and the hotel will play a key role in supporting Geelong’s growing visitor economy, providing the quality accommodation needed to attract and host national and international audiences so they can enjoy Geelong and this amazing region.”

The hotel also marks Crowne Plaza’s debut in regional Victoria, arriving as Geelong cements itself as one of Australia’s most compelling coastal destinations.

Bookings can be made now via crowneplaza.com/geelong