Victoria’s picturesque Yarra Valley will be bestowed with its first ever globally branded hotel after InterContinental Hotels Group announced it will bring its new upscale brand ‘voco’ to the region.
Property entrepreneur Martyn Barnes has selected the upstart IHG brand for the newbuild property, opting for its distinctive and individual ‘home away from home’ vibe combined with the security of being aligned with a major global force in accommodation and hospitality.
Due to open in 2021, the new voco Yarra Valley will offer 170 rooms in a modern building design which will rise to six storeys in height at one end, progressively sloping to a single level at the other. A further 20 individual cabins will also be on site for guests looking for a more intimate experience outside of the main lodging.
A variety of locally inspired flavours will also be available at the new property including an on-site gin distillery, lavender farm, a mirror maze, landscaped theatre sculpted from the terrain and a provedore market selling Yarra Valley produce including wine, artworks and handicrafts among its wares. Additional guest facilities include a restaurant, kids club, fitness centre and conference/meeting facilities.
Barnes Capital Managing Director, Martyn Barnes, said he was excited to bring the voco brand to the popular Victorian region.
“As one of Australia’s premier wine regions, the last thing people want when they arrive in Yarra Valley is a vanilla experience. That’s why voco is the perfect fit, giving business and leisure guests a great, globally-branded, upscale hotel that guests can depend on, but that’s different enough to be fun.” Barnes’ partnership with IHG will also see it open the Holiday Inn Melbourne Coburg, scheduled for 2020.
IHG Senior Director of Development for Australasia Abhijay Sandilya said the company was delighted to work with Barnes Capital on the new project.
“IHG launched voco in June with the first signing for the brand in Australia, and we are so pleased to see the brand momentum continue here with the second signing.”
The voco Yarra Valley announcement comes a little over a month since IHG confirmed it would convert the Watermark Hotel on the Gold Coast into its first Australian voco property later this year.