With the arrival of a brand new sister resort out there, InterContinental Resorts Group Space Normal Supervisor and InterContinental Sydney Normal Supervisor, Jennifer Brown, spoke solely to HM concerning the evolution of the InterContinental model, the significance of flexibility and inclusivity within the visitor expertise, and the outlook for summer season buying and selling.
As InterContinental Resorts Group Space Normal Supervisor and InterContinental Sydney Normal Supervisor, Jennifer Brown, has been on the forefront of an thrilling evolution of the InterContinental model regionally.
Brown has led InterContinental Sydney by means of a AU$120 million renovation course of, overseen the launch of progressive meals and beverage experiences, and pushed a compelling company enterprise providing, securing the HM Award for Conferences and Conferencing Property for the second consecutive 12 months in 2025.
Now, with the arrival of a brand new sister resort within the metropolis, Brown spoke solely to HM about this new part of the InterContinental model, the significance of flexibility and inclusivity within the visitor expertise, and the outlook for summer season buying and selling.
Jennifer, the InterContinental model is having a second, with main property upgrades resulting in new choices in key cities, together with Sydney’s Coogee Seashore. Inform us about this model elevation out of your perspective as Space Normal Supervisor and the influence on InterContinental Sydney?
The worldwide evolution of the InterContinental model is actually thrilling. We’re targeted not solely on reinforcing our core model pillars but in addition making certain they resonate with at the moment’s trendy luxurious traveller. This entails an integration of progressive resort design, cutting-edge expertise, and personalised service, all whereas immersing company within the native tradition. Because the world’s largest luxurious model, delivering constant, high-touch service is key. On the similar time, it’s essential that every resort displays its distinctive sense of place.
Each InterContinental Sydney and InterContinental Coogee Seashore are prime examples of how this model evolution is being realised. They showcase our ongoing dedication to reinvestment, which has been enthusiastically obtained by each returning and new company.
Our 4 model pillars – Unbelievable Events, Insider Experience, Inclusivity, and Versatile Eating – are actually extra tangible than ever. The thrilling transformation at InterContinental Sydney and Coogee Seashore embodies a shift in the direction of resorts that aren’t simply locations to remain however social anchors, deeply linked to their locations. They provide an emotional connection, the place company expertise Sydney in a complete new approach.
For InterContinental Sydney, the completion of our renovation and model evolution has redefined the resort as one of many metropolis’s most iconic luxurious harbourside properties and bolstered our place as a flagship for the model. Each touchpoint, from internet hosting once-in-a-lifetime occasions to providing culturally immersive experiences, has been re-imagined interesting to at the moment’s discerning traveller in search of flexibility, inclusivity, and significant connections.
The renewed concentrate on inclusivity and suppleness has broadened our attraction, welcoming a extra numerous mixture of company, events, and communities into the resort. It has elevated expectations throughout the InterContinental portfolio and sharpened our ambition in Sydney: to steer not simply in scale and heritage, however in modern luxurious, creativity, and relevance.
How has InterContinental Sydney carried out in 2025? Are you continue to seeing the influence of the resort transformation on visitor bookings?
2025 has been an distinctive 12 months for the resort, with efficiency persevering with to surpass expectations. We’re nonetheless seeing the constructive results of our transformation, which has bolstered InterContinental Sydney’s place inside the international luxurious panorama. The repositioning has allowed us to draw a extra numerous mixture of company, with a notable enhance in worldwide enterprise. Friends are coming from all corners of the world, drawn to the resort’s heritage, prime location, and elevated choices.
Importantly, the transformation has not solely boosted bookings but in addition led to larger demand from luxurious travellers. Friends are staying longer, participating extra deeply with our eating and bar experiences, and selecting the resort for milestone moments. This behaviour indicators a robust emotional connection to the resort and model, which is extremely rewarding.
The file occupancy we’ve seen in 2025 highlights the success of our funding to revive the constructing’s heritage whereas enhancing the visitor expertise. The resort is buying and selling with renewed confidence, stronger international relevance, and a transparent place as considered one of Sydney’s main luxurious locations.
How are bookings for the summer season season? What are you anticipating by way of home versus worldwide company?
Bookings for the summer season season are extremely robust, with wholesome ahead demand from key worldwide markets. We’re anticipating a very excessive quantity of worldwide company, thanks partly to main international occasions just like the Ashes cricket collection, which is already driving robust curiosity from the UK. We’re seeing encouraging reserving tempo and prolonged stays, aligning completely with our positioning as a flagship vacation spot for travellers in search of iconic Sydney experiences.
Inbound demand is rising throughout a number of areas, with worldwide company not solely returning in excessive numbers but in addition reserving earlier, staying longer, and interesting extra deeply with the resort’s choices, whether or not that’s eating, occasions, or cultural experiences.
Home journey stays essential throughout the summer season interval, however we’re seeing a wholesome steadiness with worldwide company, which bodes very nicely for the Sydney resort trade outlook.
Do you see a flow-on impact from IHG’s group-wide partnerships and loyalty program?
Completely. The energy of IHG’s group-wide partnerships, particularly the IHG One Rewards loyalty program, has had a big and constructive influence on our efficiency.
InterContinental Sydney is among the most sought-after resorts for IHG One Rewards members, and this system’s wealthy advantages assist us have interaction a extremely energetic international member base. These members are in search of premium, experience-led stays, and they’re more and more selecting iconic locations like Sydney. In consequence, we’re seeing stronger worldwide bookings, larger repeat visitation, and elevated size of keep, notably from our most useful luxurious and frequent traveller segments.
The continuing elevation of IHG One Rewards, providing extra tailor-made advantages, has been met with nice enthusiasm by each present members and newcomers. This system’s recognition, together with a number of Freddie Awards for classes akin to Finest Resort Loyalty Program and Finest Buyer Service, speaks to its widespread attraction and member loyalty.
For InterContinental Sydney, this system helps our place inside the luxurious house, making certain that our company really feel valued, recognised, and rewarded in a private approach. When paired with IHG’s international distribution and partnership energy, it enhances our charge integrity, boosts worldwide progress, and fosters long-term model loyalty, parts that proceed to assist our robust efficiency.
InterContinental Sydney not too long ago took dwelling the award for Conferences and Conferencing Property on the 2025 HM Awards. Inform us about how this finish of the enterprise is performing and what’s supplying you with the sting?
We’re thrilled to have received the HM Award for Conferences and Conferencing Property for the second consecutive 12 months. This recognition is a testomony to our unwavering dedication to delivering distinctive occasions and reinforces our strategic concentrate on this key a part of our enterprise.
We’re seeing robust confidence and return from the company, affiliation, and incentive segments, alongside vital progress in weddings and social occasions. What actually offers us the sting is the mix of distinctive, irreplaceable occasion areas set in opposition to the backdrop of our heritage structure and gorgeous harbour views. These areas, paired with a deep dedication to flexibility, enable us to supply a extremely curated and personalised expertise for each occasion.
Guided by our pillar of Unbelievable Events, we’ve moved past conventional room rent to unlock these areas with bespoke experiences, from immersive dinners to actually unforgettable celebrations. Each occasion is a once-in-a-lifetime second, and our staff’s consideration to element, creativity, and repair excellence is what actually units us aside out there.
What meals and beverage plans or activations do you may have within the works for the summer season interval?
Summer time is a pivotal time for us in the case of meals and beverage, and we’re targeted on delivering elevated, experience-driven activations that align with our model pillars of Unbelievable Events and Versatile Eating all whereas benefiting from our iconic places.
Aster Rooftop Bar, with its gorgeous 270-degree views of Sydney Harbour, continues to be a visitor favorite. This 12 months, we’re introducing a curated summer season cocktail menu impressed by seasonal substances and international flavours. We’ll additionally offer sunset-led programming, together with DJ periods and themed evenings, designed to seize these golden-hour moments. These activations is not going to solely attraction to native company but in addition assist us drive worldwide visitation, additional solidifying Aster’s place as considered one of Sydney’s most aspirational rooftop locations.
We’re additionally tapping into the solo eating development with our “Martini for One” expertise at Aster, providing company a classy and private strategy to benefit from the house. As well as, we’ll be internet hosting worldwide bar expertise, beginning with Staff Solely Singapore in January, to maintain the expertise contemporary and thrilling.
Our ever-popular Excessive Tea will even make a return within the New Yr, offering a redefined luxurious resort bar expertise. We’re additionally persevering with to supply tailor-made meals and beverage experiences for weddings and social occasions, unlocking our heritage areas for bespoke menus and immersive ideas.
These activations are designed not solely to drive incremental income but in addition to deepen visitor engagement and guarantee InterContinental Sydney stays a vibrant, social hub all through the summer season season.
