THE Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley resort will get a $5.5 million upgrade after IHG signed a new 10-year agreement with owner, Schwartz Family Company.
The Schwartz Family Company bought the hotel in 2012 and will spend $5.5 million to deliver the Hunter Valley’s first conference centre and an on-site brewery and distillery.
The conference centre has received significant government support, with the Federal Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism granting $250,000.
Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley will also become the centre of operations for the Schwartz Family’s Sydney Brewing Company, with a 300 sqm, micro distillery and cellar door due to be established as part of the hotel’s main complex. Within the next two years a larger, purpose-built craft brewery and distillery will be established on 41-ha of newly-acquired adjacent land.
Other enhancements include a soft refurbishment of Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley’s 150 hotel rooms and 169 two and three bedroom villas, improvements to the 18-hole golf course, expansion of the kid’s club, an extension of the hotel’s Grapevine Bar and Restaurant, and new energy and water consumption infrastructure.
IHG Australasia head of operations Bill Edwards said the company was delighted to extend their management agreement and is eagerly anticipating the upgrade of the hotel which draws the majority of its visitors from Australia, China, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia.
Schwartz Family Company director Dr Jerry Schwartz said the goal is to establish the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley as one of the most popular leisure and conferencing resorts in the country.
“IHG has managed this hotel very successfully since it opened in 2006, and is unquestionably the best partner to help us realise our long-term plans for this facility,” Dr Schwartz said.
Property Review
