Geelong’s newest hotel currently under construction on Geelong’s waterfront, Crowne Plaza Geelong, has made its first appointment, hiring industry veteran John Dickson as general manager.
John joins with more than 20 years’ experience managing hotels, including as general manager of Novotel Geelong for three years and prior to that, general manager of hotels in Melbourne, Sydney and Wellington.
John said he is straight to work sourcing the best local talent ahead of opening next year.
“It’s an honour to be tasked with building a talented team of locals that can provide guests with the premium experience that Crowne Plaza is famous for around the world,” John said.
“This is a marquee investment in Geelong, and I want to ensure we get it right – bringing in the best people to provide the best service to locals and visitors.”
The $120 million, 200-room Crowne Plaza Geelong will be Geelong’s largest hotel.
It is fully funded by leading infrastructure and real asset investor, developer and manager Plenary Group and will be operated by IHG Hotels C Resorts under the Crowne Plaza brand.
It is being delivered as part of the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre precinct development.
The development is part of a total $250 million being invested by Plenary in the convention centre precinct in associated retail, commercial and mixed-use spaces.
Plenary Chief Investment Officer Paul Crowe said the hotel will be the biggest and best in the region and one that will mark the next phase of Geelong’s waterfront revitalisation.
“The hotel and retail offerings throughout the precinct will include cafes and restaurants for locals and visitors to enjoy quality local food and beverages and a public sky bar with some of the best views in Geelong,” Paul said.
“Our 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.
“We look forward to delivering a precinct that will strengthen and grow the tourism and major events industry in the region for decades to come.”
Plenary Group is also the lead proponent of the Plenary Conventions consortium delivering the adjacent $449 million Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre project; contracted to finance, design, construct and maintain Nyaal Banyul for 25 years in partnership with the Victorian Government and its funding partners under the Geelong City Deal, the
Australian Government and the City of Greater Geelong.
The hotel and convention centre precinct development is supporting around 1,500 local jobs including priority jobseekers working in a range of apprenticeship skillsets and opportunities for women in construction.
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