InterContinental Hotels Group’s new upscale hotel brand voco arrives in Victoria’s Yarra Valley in 2021. The region is known as a premier wine destination. The hotel is the area’s first globally branded, upscale property, providing accommodations, dining and experiences under one roof.

The property designs include 170 guestrooms, an on-site gin distillery, lavender farm, mirrored maze and amphitheater. More expected amenities include a gym, conference and meeting facilities, bars, an on-site restaurant and kids’ facilities.

“IHG launched voco in June with the first signing for the brand in Australia, and we are so pleased to see the brand momentum continue here with the second signing. voco delivers a guest experience that stands out, with touches of charm and memorable, distinctive and dependable hallmarks, so we can’t think of a better partner for this new hotel than Martyn Barnes,” said Abhijay Sandilya, senior director of development, Australia, IHG. “The signing of voco Yarra Valley continues IHG’s ambition to take our brands into regional markets, including suburban micro-markets close to Australian capital cities.”

“As one of Australia’s premier wine regions, the last thing people want when they arrive in Yarra Valley is a vanilla experience. That’s why voco is the perfect fit, giving business and leisure guests a great, globally-branded, upscale hotel that guests can depend on, but that’s different enough to be fun. I’m excited to work with IHG to open voco Yarra Valley, building on our partnership that will also see us opening Holiday Inn Melbourne Coburg in 2020. Watch this space, because we have more to come,” adds Martyn Barnes, managing director, Barnes Capital, the management firm signed on to the hotel.