IHG Hotels & Resorts has entered a portfolio agreement with Star Millennium to rebrand two hotels at Sydney Airport and Macquarie Park to the Crowne Plaza brand.

The 196-room Crowne Plaza Macquarie Park, transitioning from the Courtyard by Marriott, Sydney-North Ryde, is set to open early next year.

This rebranding will encompass a refurbishment of both the lobby and guest rooms.

Holiday Inn Sydney Airport is also set to be rebranded as Crowne Plaza Sydney Airport in September 2024.

Following an A$15m ($10.12m) revamp of the hotel guest rooms in 2022, the property is claimed to be already meeting the Crowne Plaza standard.

The hotel will now undergo updates to its lobby and restaurant to fully transition into the premium market segment. The 252-room hotel serves both business and leisure travellers.

Both hotels will transition to a franchise model, with Star Millennium engaging Trilogy Hotels to manage the operations.

IHG Hotels & Resorts Development director Cameron Burke said: “We are honoured to have been chosen by Star Millennium as the partner to brand these two well-known Sydney hotels.

“It’s exciting to see the Crowne Plaza brand continue to go from strength to strength, building on its reputation as one of the world’s best-known and loved premium hotel brands among corporate and leisure travellers alike."

As of 31 March 2024, IHG's portfolio in Australasia & the Pacific includes 97 hotels, either open or in the pipeline, with 22 of these being Crowne Plaza properties.

Looking ahead, the company is set to expand the Crowne Plaza brand further, with new openings in Mawson Lakes, Melbourne Carlton, and Shell Cove Marina within the next 12 months.

Additionally, a new property in Geelong is due to open in 2026.