Six Continents Hotels Adds Four New Hotels to Australian Crowne Plaza Portfolio

Six Continents Hotels is to add four new hotels to its Crowne Plaza portfolio in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific during March 2003, three of which will be in addition to the Group's existing network of hotels. The new hotels are located in some of Australia's most popular and emerging travel destinations.

The global hotel Group has signed a letter of intent to take over management of Rydges Plaza Resort Alice Springs and Rydges Plaza Darwin, a move currently scheduled for 3 March, 2003. Upon signing of the management contract, the hotels will be re-branded as Crowne Plaza Alice Springs and Crowne Plaza Darwin.

In addition, the first upscale hotel to be built in Newcastle for over 12 years, Crowne Plaza Newcastle will open on 3 March, an event to be closely followed by the re-branding of the Gold Coast's Parkroyal Surfers Paradise as Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise on 10 March.

These latest moves will bring Six Continents Hotels' Crowne Plaza portfolio in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific to 14 and boost the brand's number of rooms to 3,398, making it the second largest upscale hotel brand in the region.

"We have gone from one Crowne Plaza hotel in this region two years ago to become the second largest player in the upscale category," said Chief Operating Officer for Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, Phil Lee.

"Establishing a presence for Crowne Plaza on the Gold Coast will result in a significant boost of recognition for the Crowne Plaza brand, which enjoys a  high global profile but is relatively new to this region.

"The two areas with the most tourism potential in Australia at the moment are Newcastle and the Northern Territory, both of which present excellent long-term opportunities for the brand. With Holiday Inn hotels already  established in Newcastle, Darwin and Kakadu, we will soon have a significant presence in some of Australia's fastest-growing travel destinations," Mr Lee said.

In addition, Six Continents Hotels will be working with hotel owner, BG Investment Management Pty Ltd to maximise the benefits of the owner's $1.5 million investment to fully refurbish Crowne Plaza Darwin.

"The all-suite Crowne Plaza Newcastle will also play an important role in raising the profile of the brand in this region. With Newcastle and the Hunter Coast rising in prominence as a leisure and meetings destination, Crowne  Plaza Newcastle is in a strong position to contribute to boosting business and tourism in the city.

"By taking on the Crowne Plaza brand, these hotels will automatically be linked to the extensive infrastructure supporting the individual properties  within our global network. This includes 16 reservations centres around the world, taking millions of dollars worth of bookings every day as well as our international sales teams and global guest loyalty programme, Priority Club Rewards," Mr Lee added.

Six Continents Hotels will take over management of the Darwin and Alice Spring properties after concluding an agreement with BG Investment Management Pty Ltd. The long-established hotel family company approached the Group after recognising the benefits of adopting a global hotel brand.

"We are delighted to have signed the letter of intent for Six Continents Hotels to manage our Darwin and Alice Springs properties. The Crowne Plaza brand is globally recognised and respected and we feel guests will positively  respond to this move," said Mr Lloyd Berger, Managing Director of BG Investment Management Pty Ltd.