InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) opened the first hotel in its new upscale brand, Voco, on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Wednesday 14 November.
The 389-room Voco Gold Coast is positioned in the heart of Australia’s Surfers Paradise precinct. Previously branded as Watermark Hotel & Spa, the property has received a massive overhaul over the past five months. It features two swimming pools, gym facilities, L’Aqua Day Spa and views of the beach and hinterland.
Voco Gold Coast also offers several exclusive features that set it apart from existing hotels, such as its on-site beehives, producing honey for various uses throughout the hotel. The sustainability focus also promises refillable dispensers for products such as soap, along with high-end Aveda amenities and an initiative with Gold Coast City Council to ensure all kitchen waste is recycled.
Since the brand’s launch six months ago, IHG has signed six Voco properties, in addition to the four properties that will reposition as part of the UK portfolio deal. IHG expects to have at least 15 signings in total for Voco by the end of 2018. These include three signings in Australia (in Victorian wine region, Yarra Valley and in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD), as well as a number of properties in the UK.
Voco hotel openings in Solihull and Cardiff in the UK are expected to follow shortly.
In attendance at the opening of Voco Gold Coast was Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, and Destination Gold Coast Chairman, Paul Donovan.
Lead image (from left): Brenden van Blerk, GM voco Gold Coast; Paul Donovan, Chairman Destination Gold Coast; Gary Baildon, Councillor Surfers Paradise; Tom Tate, Mayor Gold Coast; Ruwan Peiris, Director of Operations IHG Australasia; Annaleise Battista, CEO Destination Gold Coast; Paul Salter, Managing Director SB&G Group.