InterContinental will add another Crowne Plaza hotel to its Australian portfolio, following completion of a franchise agreement with Morgan Stanley’s MSREF Fund to rebrand the hotel at the iconic Royal Pines Resort on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

An A$16 million refurbishment programme is currently underway at the resort, which will become the Crowne Plaza Royal Pines Resort from 15 December 2006. The current resort manager, Morgan Stanley Japan subsidiary Panorama Hospitality, will operate the hotel under the Crowne Plaza brand. The resort’s existing sales. marketing and reservations will be complemented by InterContinental Hotels Group’s extensive national and international presence.

In addition to the 331-room Crowne Plaza, the Royal Pines Resort includes a purpose-built convention centre featuring a pillarless ballroom with full vehicle access that caters for up to 1,800 people, a business centre and 12 meeting rooms. Both the hotel and the convention centre are situated within the Royal Pines Resort’s 27 hole championship golf course.

Panorama Hospitality President, Rob Wilson said, “We are looking forward to working with InterContinental Hotels Group on the next stage in the evolution of this resort. With an extensive refurbishment underway and the addition of the group’s excellent international sales and marketing capabilities, this property will be positioned as a world-class leisure and conference destination.”

Located at the heart of the Gold Coast between Surfers Paradise and the Hinterland, the resort is situated on more than 200 hectares of landscaped gardens and a short drive away from the region’s natural attractions and theme parks.

InterContinental has been awarded the title of the World’s Leading Hotel Brand in 2006 by the World Travel Awards.
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