Room to choose: 11 hotel openings to look forward to in 2025
Travellers seeking the latest and most exciting accommodation have plenty of options in 2025. A host of new hotels – from the boutique to the very grand – are opening their doors this year, some after many years of anticipation.
These 11 offerings are among a wave of nearly 4000 hotel rooms expected to come online over the next 12 months as a post-pandemic construction boom peaks.
Leading the charge is international hotel giant IHG, which will be adding more than 1000 keys to its portfolio in new and major destinations across Australia.
“I’m feeling optimistic about the year ahead. We’re in a good spot, despite global macroeconomic challenges and inflation pressures in Australia that are tough on all businesses,” said IHG regional managing director Matthew Tripolone.
“This says a lot about the solid health of our industry as we’re maintaining keen interest from investors. On the consumer side, interest in luxury and lifestyle experiences continues to rise, and we’re seeing the benefits when it comes to our growth pipeline.”
That optimism is backed up by performance figures published by hotel research firm STR.
Over the first 11 months of 2024, all five of the major capital cities lifted their occupancy rates compared to the same period in 2023. Leading the charge was Perth at 80 per cent, followed by Sydney at 78 per cent.
Except for Melbourne – which was flat at $218 – all the capital cities lifted their average daily rates over the year, led by Sydney at $270 ahead of Brisbane at $233.
The Eve Hotel Sydney
The Eve Hotel, part of seasoned developer Toga Group’s Surry Hills Village precinct on the corner of Cleveland Road and Baptist Street opens its doors on February 13. The 102-room designer hotel will connect with Wunderlich Lane, a new al fresco dining and retail precinct. But the big drawcard for guests will be the hotel’s rooftop garden, packed with native and exotic plants and featuring a 20-metre pool, restaurant and bar.
The panoramic views over Surry Hills and Redfern will no doubt create the perfect setting for an evening cocktail. The Eve will be operated by TFE Hotels, a joint venture between Toga (owned by the Rich Lister Vidor family) and Singapore’s Far East Hospitality Holdings.
Mondrian Gold Coast
Scheduled to open in early 2025 – and first unveiled in 2020 as part of a twin tower project by Brisbane developer Chris Vitale – the 208-room hotel overlooking Burleigh Heads Beach will mark the debut of the Mondrian brand in Australia and the rollout of entertainment-focused Ennismore hotels (a joint venture with French accommodation giant Accor). Known for its innovative food and beverage offerings, the Mondrian Gold Coast will include two restaurants (one of them poolside) that draw inspiration from local produce and seafood. The accommodation options will include glamorous beach houses as well as suites and studios.
1 Hotel Melbourne
May will herald one of the most eagerly anticipated brand debuts in Australia when 1 Hotel Melbourne opens its doors on the northern banks of the Yarra. A sustainable and environmentally conscious hotel brand, 1 Hotel was developed by renowned American hotelier Barry Sternlicht, the founder of Starwood Hotels (now part of Marriott International) and real estate fund manager Starwood Capital. First announced back in 2019 as part of developer Riverlee’s Seafarers Residences (and originally due to open in 2022 before the pandemic waylaid those plans) the 277-room hotel incorporates plenty of recycled materials in its construction and plenty of native greenery inside. Amenities include a wellness and fitness centre, a 1000-seat function centre, various dining options and a lobby bar.
Crowne Plaza Shell Cove Marina
Luxury big-name hotels won’t be opening in just the major cities in 2025. Due to welcome guests in May, the 181-room Crowne Plaza will be the jewel in a $1.5 billion mixed-use development around the Shellharbour Marina south of Wollongong called The Waterfront (developed by Frasers and the Shellharbour City Council). The Crowne Plaza will include contemporary hotel rooms and serviced apartments, as well as function and conference facilities, extensive meetings and event spaces, three food and beverage outlets and an outdoor resort-style pool. The hotel will be owned and operated by Oscars Hospitality, a major pub and accommodation group led by brothers Mario and Bill Gravanis.
25hours Hotel The Olympia
The transformation of Paddington’s heritage-listed West Olympia Theatre on Oxford Street into a 109-room luxury hotel will be complete by mid-year, as the Ennismore lifestyle and entertainment brand makes its debut in Australia. Developed by Central Element and property investor Boston Global, the hotel will offer four dining and drinking venues including Monica, a rooftop bar with views over Sydney, a cocktail bar and a restaurant.
voco Gosford
When the voco Gosford opens its door in the middle of 2025, it will be the first new-build hotel to be completed on the popular Central Coast region north of Sydney in more than 15 years. Offering 130 rooms as well conference and event facilities, the premium hotel forms part of the $375 million Archibald twin-tower residential mixed-use development by Aland on Donnison Street in the centre of Gosford (across the road is the region’s major sporting arena, Industree Group Stadium). The hotel will include the Central Coast’s highest rooftop bar on level 28.
Andaz Gold Coast
The Star Gold Coast casino and resort at Broadbeach will add a fresh dash of glam and glitz to its lineup of bars, restaurants and accommodation when Hyatt Hotels opens its first Andaz resort within the entertainment complex in mid-2025. Marking the US hotelier’s 10th hotel in Australia and fifth brand, Andaz Gold Coast will occupy floors six to 21 of a 65-storey tower and feature 202 guest rooms and suites. Overlooking Broadbeach, an expansive outdoor pool deck on level six will include a cocktail bar, a beach club with private cabanas and al fresco dining.
Holiday Inn Melbourne Bourke Street Mall and Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins
Originally due to open in 2022, and now slated for a July debut, the dual-branded IHG hotel precinct is a redevelopment of the former Walk Arcade, a shopping mall that ran from Bourke Street Mall to Little Collins Street. (Next door, the former David Jones Menswear store is also in the process of being redeveloped into a retail and office offering). A mid-scale 273-room Holiday Inn will front Bourke Street Mall while a more upmarket and boutique 179-room Hotel Indigo will back onto Little Collins Street. Each hotel will have its own guest lobby, amenities and rooms while sharing back-of-house services and facilities, replicating IHG’s dual-hotel offerings in Singapore and Auckland.
Hannah St. Hotel
Due to open in September, the 188-room boutique luxury hotel will span 10 levels of the 62-level Queensbridge Building currently under construction on the corner of Queens Bridge and Hannah streets – just behind Crown Melbourne – on Southbank. The hotel will feature a neighbourhood bar, restaurant, and rooftop bar as well as events spaces, a lap pool, wellness studio and co-working spaces. But best of all will be its location – just a short walk across the Yarra from the bustle of the CBD or a stroll along the river to the MCG. The hotel will be operated by TFE Hotels and is part of a development by Time & Place.
Hyde Perth
Rounding out the year, the Hyde Perth will mark the Aussie debut of yet another Ennismore brand, which has its roots in the Los Angeles club scene. Located on Pier Street in the heart of the CBD, Hyde Perth will offer 120 guest rooms, two dedicated meetings and events spaces, a destination restaurant and bar, and a cafe that opens onto an outdoor pool area surrounded by lush, tropical landscaping. The hotel is a project by Ark Capital Partners and developer Kyko Group,
