IHG Hotels & Resorts will enhance its Asia-Pacific premium and luxury portfolio with the addition of voco Queenstown and the all-new InterContinental Port Moresby – a first for Papua New Guinea – offering a strategic value proposition for travellers and advisors.
Partnering with Pro-invest Group, the existing Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown site will transform and reopen as voco Queenstown later this year, repositioning the centrally located hotel within IHG’s premium portfolio.
The refurbishment of the 227-room property, operated by EVT Connect Hospitality, will include meeting space upgrades and a new restaurant and bar, Mozzarella & Co, alongside a new private dining room and outdoor dining space.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Australasia & Pacific Managing Director Matt Tripolone said the strategic repositioning of the hotel to its upscale boutique brand will unlock more value and tap into Queenstown’s popularity as a year-round destination, appealing to leisure and buiness travellers.
“We are aligning the right brand with the right asset and the right location, taking a long-term view to support sustainable returns,” he said.
IHG will also bring its international luxury hotel brand to Papua New Guinea for the first time with the opening of InterContinental Port Moresby in the country’s capital.
Due to open in late 2028, the hotel will be the central landmark in a new mixed-use development within the government and diplomatic precinct, perfectly positioned for visiting dignitaries, business travellers and leisure guests.
The 179-room hotel will feature four dining and bar areas, a Club Lounge, fitness centre, outdoor pool and more than 600sqm of meeting and event space.
Tripolone said: “We’re delighted to partner with Gulf Province Properties Limited to bring InterContinental to Papua New Guinea. As the nation’s capital continues to strengthen its position on the regional and global stage, InterContinental Port Moresby will set a new standard for luxury hospitality.”
InterContinental Port Moresby will join IHG’s growing presence in PNG, which includes Holiday Inn Port Moresby, Holiday Inn Express Port Moresby and Crowne Plaza Residences Port Moresby, making it the largest international hotel operator in the country.
IHG will also open the InterContinental Barossa Resort & Spa in 2028, marking the Barossa Valley’s first luxury hotel.
Find out more at ihg.com
KARRYON UNPACKS: The voco Queenstown and InterContinental Port Moresby signings reflect IHG’s strategic brand elevation in key leisure and corporate hubs, giving advisors stronger premium and luxury options across New Zealand and the South Pacific.
