Double Bay's legendary hotel situated at 33 Cross Street is soon to become
InterContinental Sydney Double Bay. Singaporean-based Royal Hotels and
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) have signed a management agreement for the
140-room InterContinental hotel on this famed site in one of Sydney's most luxurious
suburbs.Royal Hotels will undertake a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of all guest
rooms and public areas of the hotel, after which it will reopen as InterContinental
Sydney Double Bay in January 2014.Purpose-built in 1991 as the Ritz Carlton Double
Bay, the hotel established a reputation as the place to stay for celebrities when visiting
Sydney. It became the Stamford in 2001, before closing in 2009 with a view to being
redeveloped.Australian architects, Bates Smart have been appointed by Royal Hotels to
restore the hotel to its former glory. Facilities will include a ballroom for up to 300
guests, meeting space, an all-day dining restaurant, Club InterContinental, café, lounge
and bar, rooftop pool and bar and generous underground parking. Underneath the
hotel, a ground floor arcade will be developed and is anticipated to include a health club
or day spa as well as retail space.Bobby Hiranandani, Director of Royal Hotels said, "We
are tremendously excited about re-launching this property and becoming a member of
the internationally-renowned InterContinental family. We selected IHG as our partner for
this hotel based on the strength of the InterContinental brand both here and worldwide,
and its proven ability to deliver premium returns on the assets that bear its name."Our
plan is to rejuvenate this ideally-situated hotel and its surrounds, making it the
destination for Eastern-suburbs locals and Australian and international visitors alike.
InterContinental Sydney Double Bay will become an ideal destination for weddings,
conferences and dining as well as luxury hotel accommodation."We are pleased to be
partnering with IHG in this, a landmark in the Australian market. We have been
impressed with IHG's support to date, and in them believe we have a partner that will
assist us creating an exciting new guest experience in Sydney", said Hiranandani.IHG
Asia, Middle East and Africa CEO, Jan Smits continued: "The signing of InterContinental
Sydney Double Bay is a significant development for the InterContinental brand in
Australia. The site at 33 Cross Street has long awaited the arrival of a new luxury hotel
for Sydneysiders and visitors, and we feel confident that in partnership with Royal Hotels
we will create something very special for our guests".InterContinental Sydney Double
Bay will be the fifth InterContinental hotel in Australia, and will join the family of 169
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts around the world.