IHG is making a statement by creating what will be the first globally branded upscale hotel in the Yarra Valley wine region, with help from Barnes Capital and Hachem.

An onsite gin distillery, lavender farm and mirrored maze are just some of the distinctive elements likely to set this architecturally impressive hotel apart from the rest in Victoria.

A milestone hotel opening

In August 2018, IHG announced that entrepreneur Martyn Barnes had signed a management agreement to run his new Yarra Valley property under the upscale Voco flag. This area is considered one of Australia’s premier wine regions, with its annual Rochford Wines Day drawing in big name artists like Robbie Williams and Stevie Nicks.

Voco Yarra Valley will be the wine region’s first globally branded upscale hotel and one that ensures guests relax and enjoy themselves with its informal approach. Combining developer Barnes Capital’s expertise with the architecture and interior design excellence of Hachem, this property is due to reach completion in the first quarter of 2023.

Distinct design and unique facilities

The architecturally striking property will rise up to six storeys high at one end, tapering down to just one storey on the other side. It’ll house 216 guestrooms, including a number of cabins, along with unique features including a gin distillery, lavender farm, mirrored maze, amphitheatre cut from natural ground and provedore offering local produce.

Among the other facilities here will be large conference facilities, a fitness centre, a family restaurant, bars drawing on the Yarra Valley location and kids’ entertainment.

The hotel will provide a place to stay at the gateway to the Yarra Valley of Maroondah Highway. Here, guests are less than half an hour by car from Melbourne’s CBD, while they’re also near Lilydale train station and the Coldstream and Lilydale airports.

As well as visiting the region’s wineries, guests will be able to set out on the walking trails of Dandenong Ranges National Park, visit Tarrawarra Museum of Art and see the landscape from a whole new perspective by hot-air balloon.

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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