Country overview: Australia gears up for 180 new properties [Infographic]

The TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database reveals that 180 hotel schemes are in the pipeline down under, fuelled by rapid growth in Melbourne and Sydney.

Our researchers report that 180 hotel projects with a total of 34,525 keys are in the works across Australia right now. We take a closer look at the country’s exciting development slate.

Australia’s hotel openings by year

In 2021, 42 hotels with 7,527 rooms will open their doors according to our projections, of which 25 are already in the pre-opening phase.

2022 looks equally strong with a further 41 properties and 7,809 keys on the cards. For 2023, meanwhile, 28 projects with 5,562 rooms are being progressed – and 69 schemes and 13,627 keys have been mooted for 2024 onwards.

Of Australia’s 180 new hotels, the vast majority (128) will be in the four-star category, with the remaining 52 falling squarely into the five-star luxury segment.

Growing urban hotel markets in Australia

Australia’s most active urban market for hotel development is Melbourne, which will see 32 properties with 7,403 rooms go live in the coming years.

Sydney is some way behind, with its 23 ongoing projects and 5,310 keys securing second place on the leaderboard. And Adelaide, known for its fabulous wine and art scene, will get eight new hotels with a total of 1,873 keys.

Key hotel brands expanding in Australia

Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts heads up our list of Australia’s fastest growing brands with nine projects and 1,579 keys overall.

Interestingly, Westin Hotels & Resorts shares the runners-up spot with Hotel Indigo. Each brand will launch five properties apiece, although the former wins in terms of room count with its figure of 1,065 comprehensively beating the 765 keys lined up for the latter.

New Australian hotels you need to know about

Set in the heart of the Southbank neighbourhood, Hilton Melbourne Square will be part of a mixed-use development comprising residential, commercial, speciality retail and 3,700 sq m of open-space parkland. This 600-room property, which will no doubt be ideal for business travellers given its proximity to Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, has been pencilled in to open in Q1 2023.

Elsewhere, 1 Hotel at Seafarers is another exciting project currently being advanced in Melbourne. Following the successful launch of its first three properties in the US, the 1 Hotel brand is now bringing its nature- and sustainability-focused philosophy to Australia. Set to open in early 2023, the 277-key hotel will feature a state-of-the-art wellness centre, a ground-floor 1,000-seat function centre, a variety of dining options and a lobby bar.

Last but not least, Voco Sydney Central is set to wow guests with its sloping roof adorned with ‘green waterfalls’, the brainchild of the architects at BVN Sydney. Once the 301-room hotel opens in Q2 2022, it’ll offer Voco’s signature upscale experience that, as always, is tailored to the hotel’s exact location and local customs.

Many TOPHOTELNEWS articles draw on exclusive information from the TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database. This subscription-based product includes details of thousands of hotel projects around the world, along with the key decision-makers behind them. Please note, our data may differ from records held by other organisations. Generally, the database focuses on four- and five-star schemes of significant scale; tracks projects in either the vision, pre-planning, planning, under-construction, pre-opening or newly opened phase; and covers newbuilds, extensions, refurbishments and conversions.

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