IHG has unveiled plans to open a 171-key voco hotel in Melbourne built around its innovative ‘Me Time’ concept.

IHG’s voco brand is teaming up with developer BEKL to create a fresh and innovative new hotel offering. Promising an exciting and altogether different prospect from its sister property in Melbourne Central, voco South Melbourne will put the emphasis firmly on the guest. We find out more.

IHG to ramp up presence in Melbourne

A hot new property in IHG’s international development pipeline is already making plenty of waves. Australia’s cultural capital of Melbourne is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new voco South Melbourne, a 171-key property due to open its doors at the northern end of St. Kilda Road in early 2023.

Melbourne is already home to voco Melbourne Central, a swanky property located in the city’s bustling CBD. Unlike its counterpart, however, voco South Melbourne will focus on voco’s unique ‘Me Time’ concept, which enables guests to pamper themselves with everything from premium beds and bedding to power showers, adjustable lighting and high-tech guest rooms.

BEKL’s MD Katherine Liu said: “We pride ourselves on creating quality, innovative, longstanding spaces that place an emphasis on the human experience, so it was important to us that our partners share that same vision and passion for what we are trying to achieve. Melbourne is one of the world’s great cities and has always had an enviable events calendar, strong tourism and an increasing appetite for outstanding accommodation.

“Even after a challenging period over the past few months, we know Melbourne will bounce back better than ever, and we can’t think of a better brand than voco to bring a unique personality to our South Melbourne property. We are proud to be partnering with IHG to open this exceptional hotel in 2023.”

IHG builds hotel pipeline in Australasia

voco has become synonymous with a particular type of luxurious lifestyle in the short time that the brand has been around. In only two years, the brand has cemented its presence around the world, and the signing of this South Melbourne scheme continues the rapid growth in IHG’s pipeline in Australasia, which now includes seven voco hotels.

For this venture, Plus Architecture will craft the interiors of the guest rooms, interpreting voco’s brand in a sophisticated and elegant way that will provide a different dimension to this part of Melbourne, where there is a proliferation of extended stay serviced apartments. While in the bedrooms, Me Time will take precedence, it is a different story in the common areas where the voco life concept will be at play, which encourages social interaction, whether that be at work or during downtime.

The hotel will also offer guests convenient access to many of Melbourne’s most exciting attractions, including the Shrine of Remembrance and the Royal Botanic Gardens, as well as the CBD and various amenities in the neighbourhood.

The voco brand continues to expand rapidly

Abhijay Sandilya, IHG’s VP of development for Australia and Japan, said: “It’s quite astounding to reflect on the fact that IHG launched the voco brand just 24 months ago, and we already have two open hotels and another five in the pipeline, three of them in Victoria. Clearly it’s striking the right chord with guests and owners.

“The newbuild voco South Melbourne will bring unique design and memorable guest experiences to this great location, and will complement our voco Melbourne Central, which is already under construction and scheduled to open later this year.”

Let’s take a look at some more upcoming hotel projects by IHG’s voco brand: