Crown flags Barangaroo as tourism icon

James Packer’s punt on the Barangaroo complex could pay off even if he exits Crown Resorts.

The Crystal Room gaming suite at the Crown casino in Sydney’s Barangaroo.

Casino company Crown Resorts has outlined a bullish vision for its prime Sydney property that has been billed as James Packer’s legacy to the city.

The tower has become a feature of the city’s skyline but the lavish property soon will also become part of the international punting circuit as national borders reopen.

New chief executive Steve McCann, who led Lendlease when it built the casino, has laid out a vision for it to become a premier destination to draw tourists into Australia and then on to other cities as well.

This could see the complex, which has been plagued by planning battles and legal fights, fin­ally live up to the billionaire’s hopes of it becoming an inter­national tourist destination.

Mr McCann expects the company’s network of casinos will benefit from the full opening of Crown Sydney, with the six-star property to become a national drawcard if it took the right ­approach once the pandemic subsides. “We believe when it normalises there will be the opportunity to direct luxury tourists to one of Crown’s other properties,” he said.

The Sydney property is styled as the country’s first six-star luxury hotel resort, with the 275m tower dominating the Barang­aroo waterfront.

It comprises the Crown Towers, which has 349 keys and spa, and 76 luxury residences. There are 160 gaming tables and 70 electronic games slated to open next year.

The limited amount of space they occupy provides plenty of scope to expand gaming in future, Mr McCann said, noting there were already multiple gaming areas.