Crowne Plaza Hobart set to open to public for first time on July 1

Hobart’s newest hotel has an official opening date after years of delays. Read the details here >>

IN a boost to the state’s tourism and hospitality sector, Hobart’s newest hotel has announced its opening date after being delayed by the pandemic.

The Crowne Plaza Hobart will now open for the first time on July 1.

InterContinental Hotels Group said in late March due to “unprecedented circumstances across the globe” it would not be opening the new hotel at the end of the month as previously planned.

Crowne Plaza Hobart hotel general manager Linda Collis told the Mercury on Sunday bookings were being taken ahead of the July 1 opening.

“We looked at the restrictions and with school holidays, we know it’s only intrastate travel, but for us it works well to get things up and running before hopefully in the not-too-distant future, the borders will open and we can have more people come and stay,” she said.

“Our restaurants The Deck over Liverpool St, which is an outside venue, and Core restaurant both have big seating capacities, but can also be separated so we thought we could get them up and running.”

Crowne Plaza Hobart. Picture: FRANCOIS FOURIE

The Aura Lounge rooftop bar will open later this year.

It’s been a long road to opening for the hotel.

It was originally due to open in October 2017, after the InterContinental Hotels Group signed a management deal with owners the Kalis Group in 2015 to build the luxury hotel in the CBD.

But progress on the hotel and the overall development was delayed in July 2016 when a Hobart Rivulet wall collapsed and flooded the basement of the Myer store in Liverpool St.

The 235-room plaza was then expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019, before the operators announced it would be another year again.

It was then set to open in late March, but this was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Crowne Plaza Hobart. Picture: FRANCOIS FOURIE

The hotel will hire 110 staff, including former Frogmore Creek chef John Churchill as executive chef for two of the restaurants.

“We have 51 back now working under JobKeeper and another 15 will come back on opening and the rest will be staged based on hopefully business picking up quickly,” Ms Collis said.

“If the restaurants and bars are doing well, that will mean we can get more people back because a lot of our people are employed in food and beverage.

“We’re hoping we get good local support and we appreciate everyone’s patience in the time it’s taken to open and we very much look forward to welcoming everyone.”