Crowne Plaza Geelong official opening date announced
Set to become a major new addition to Geelong’s accommodation landscape
Geelong’s newest and largest premium hotel, Crowne Plaza Geelong, is opening on Friday 23 January 2026.
Bookings are now open, ready to welcome visitors in the new year, in time for a massive summer events schedule in the region including the Festival of Sails, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, Head of the Schoolgirls Rowing Regatta, and the IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong.
Located on the Geelong waterfront, the hotel features 200 guest rooms and suites, meeting and event spaces with bay views, a ground level café, level 1 restaurant and bar, 10th-floor Skybar, gym, and indoor heated swimming pool.
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The Skybar will offer stunning views across the waterfront and will be a first of its kind for Geelong and regional Victoria at this height. It will also showcase the best of the region, featuring local produce, wines, craft beer, and gin from Geelong and the surrounding Bellarine Peninsula and Moorabool Valley.
Accommodation options will cater to a wide range of travellers, with half of the rooms offering water views, and the remaining facing the city skyline, including several accessible rooms.
Victorian Government Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said:
“This will provide a huge boost for the region’s visitor economy which already attracts thousands of visitors from around the globe to Victoria every year.”
Plenary CEO Paul Crowe said:
“Plenary’s investment backs the future of Geelong as the beating heart of some of the greatest tourism attractions in Australia including world-class wine, produce, tourism attractions and major events coming out of Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast, and the Great Ocean Road.”
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Crowne Plaza Geelong General Manager John Dickson said:
“We’re excited to introduce a new level of accommodation that complements the region’s existing attractions and encourages more visitors to experience what the region has to offer.”
Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM said:
“We are thrilled to see the opening of Crowne Plaza Geelong. This new hotel and hospitality space will complement Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, accommodating the many guests and exhibitors who will flock to our region once it opens next year.
The new Crowne Plaza will also provide more options for people staying overnight in Geelong, with our city expecting a huge spike in visitors as we head into a summer filled with major events like the Festival of Sails and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.”
Tracy Carter, Executive Director, Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine said:
“We are delighted to see the opening of Crowne Plaza Geelong. It’s a significant milestone for the precinct and the opportunities our region has with Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, but it’s also an important addition to the local accommodation offer as we look to build new markets, particularly internationally. Hotels with global brand recognition are a crucial part of the product mix.”
The $120 million Crowne Plaza Geelong is fully funded by leading infrastructure developer Plenary Group and is being operated by IHG Hotels & Resorts under the Crowne Plaza brand, forming part of more than $250 million being invested by Plenary in Geelong’s waterfront precinct across associated retail, commercial and mixed-use spaces.
Plenary is also delivering the adjacent $449 million Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre project, a cornerstone of the city’s growing tourism and events infrastructure.
Set to open in July 2026, Nyaal Banyul is the centrepiece of the Geelong City Deal, a $676 million commitment from the Australian Government, the Victorian Government and the City of Greater Geelong.
The opening will establish Crowne Plaza’s footprint in regional Victoria, marking a significant new era in the brand’s growth and its promise to deliver innovative experiences for guests to balance work and life in one of Australia’s most vibrant destinations.
Guests of the new-build hotel will discover thoughtful amenities and service focused on connection, tailored to the evolving needs of today’s business, leisure and blended travellers.
