Pro-Invest Group and IHG Launch Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in Australia With 2021 Sydney Debut

Main Photo: The seventh floor rooftop pool and bar

Date: May 2021

Location: Pitt Street, CBD, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Name: The Kimpton Sydney – opening October 2021

No. of Keys: 172

Seller: The hotel was formerly the Sydney Water Board Building, and became the Primus Hotel Sydney in 2015.

Buyer: After years of anticipation, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants will arrive in Australia in 2021, with IHG Hotels & Resorts and Pro-invest Group planning to convert and reposition Sydney’s Primus Hotel as Kimpton Sydney.

As the industry pioneer that first introduced the boutique concept in the US in 1981, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is renowned for its signature heartfelt service and creating guest experiences that foster genuine human connections. Today, its playful brand philosophy is celebrated worldwide, delivered through thoughtful perks and amenities, inventive meetings and events, distinctive, design-forward interiors, and lifestyle elements including the nightly Social Hour.

As a heritage-listed 1930s Art Deco revival of inter-war period architecture, and a history as the former Sydney Water Board Building, the Primus Sydney property almost sings with Kimpton personality. Its bold design, iconic red columns and boutique luxury personality will embody the brand perfectly and, once it has completed the revamp of its lobby, guest rooms and F&B, it will be undoubtedly a brand-defining flagship product for the region.

Kimpton Sydney will open this October with 172 unique design led rooms and suites, a rooftop swimming pool, conference and event spaces that are bathed in natural daylight, as well as a range of innovative culinary experiences that are built on Kimpton’s legacy of locally loved restaurants – including a lobby bar, rooftop restaurant and a café.

The brand’s lifestyle programming – part of Kimpton’s DNA – will be delivered through various complimentary experiences that can include: a morning kickstart coffee and tea, yoga lessons, bike rentals, and Kimpton’s iconic Social Hour – where the brand’s vision to enable human connections comes to life as guests mingle with locals over complimentary wines in the evening. Furry, four-legged friends are also welcome, with Kimpton’s pet-friendly approach and dialled-up pet offerings (“If it fits in the elevator, come on in!”)

Leanne Harwood, IHG’s Managing Director – Australasia, Japan & Pacific, said: “I can’t tell you how excited we are to finally bring the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants brand to Australia. We are very mindful of how special the Kimpton brand is, and that’s why it’s been so important to us that we only bring it to market with the right owner and when we have the perfect property to bring it to life. The Primus Sydney property oozes Kimpton character, as soon as we saw it, we knew it had to wear the Kimpton badge, and we are so glad Pro-invest agrees and has put its full weight behind the brand.”

“We are so proud to have such a great long-term partnership with Pro-invest that already includes 13 open or pipeline hotels across three IHG brands, and we look forward to continuing that growth together.” Jan Smits, Co-CEO at Pro-invest said: “Such a uniquely beautiful and historic hotel called for a brand that would bring the guest experience to life, and as each Kimpton hotel is a hotel-of-one, individually designed to blend the surrounding environment with local culture, offering guests an authentic and playful experience, we knew it was the right choice.”

IHG and Pro-invest have a long partnership that started with Pro-invest opening Australia’s first Holiday Inn Express in Sydney’s Macquarie Park in 2016. Since then, the portfolio has grown to include 7 Holiday Inn Express branded hotels and, together, they are expanding the partnership to include new brands, with 6 hotels in the pipeline under the voco, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Express and now Kimpton brands.

Kimpton sits apart from the stereotypical CBD luxury hotel mould, and the trendy midtown precinct location of the Sydney hotel is the perfect fit for Kimpton’s guest profile – with the State Theatre and Capitol Theatre both a stone’s throw away, along with the heritage-listed QVB retail precinct, performing arts centres and International Convention Centre.

The Kimpton brand has been growing rapidly around the world over recent years, with 73 Kimpton Hotels now open globally and 32 in the pipeline. Australia is the newest market for the brand, continuing the recent growth trajectory with hotels opening around the world.

IHG Hotels & Resorts currently has 60 hotels operating under six brands in Australasia, including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, voco, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, with another 35 in the pipeline, including Kimpton.

THPT Comment: IHG have done well with the Kimpton brand since their acquisition of Kimpton in 2014, and steaming ahead with their overall growth in Australasia.

First Seen: Hotel Executive

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