Welcoming its first guests last week, InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach is set to redefine the city’s luxury accommodation landscape. Daisy Melwani chats to General Manager of the hotel and Portfolio General Manager for IHG Hotels & Resorts – Salter Brothers, Melinda Lampier, about the hotel’s contemporary design, Rick Stein’s Australian flagship and those outdoor bathtubs being heralded as Sydney’s “sexiest” suites.

InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach marks the brand’s third property Sydney, and the city’s only luxury beachfront hotel. How does Sydney Coogee Beach compliment the InterContinental brand’s existing city footprint?

The opening of InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach marks an exciting new chapter for the brand. This property complements Sydney’s existing InterContinental portfolio by offering something unique, a beautiful beachfront hotel perfectly timed to welcome guests for the summer season.

With 198 rooms and suites, what specific gap in Sydney’s luxury market does this hotel aim to fill and how do you see it reshaping the accommodation landscape in Sydney, particularly for travellers who previously defaulted to CBD properties?

With 198 rooms and suites, InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach addresses a clear gap in Sydney’s luxury market. Until now, travellers seeking a luxury experience stay have largely gravitated to the CBD or harbourfront as there has been no true luxury option directly on the beach. This hotel offers a distinct opportunity: a refined beachfront experience yet still within easy reach of the city.

We provide the elegance of coastal living that people desire delivered with the consistency, service and sophistication of a global luxury brand. Guests can awaken to the ocean, enjoy a morning swim, explore the surrounding neighbourhood and return to elevated dining and meticulously appointed accommodations. It is an experience often associated with longer coastal retreats now accessible just fifteen minutes from Sydney’s central precinct.

As luxury suite demand surges across Sydney, the new ocean facing suites with wraparound balconies and outdoor bathtubs have already been positioned as Sydney’s “sexiest” suites – can you tell us what was the design philosophy behind this, and who is the core guest for this category?

Woods Bagot have masterfully translated the essence of Sydney’s coastline into the design of these suites. The idea was to create suites where the coastline isn’t just the backdrop, it’s part of the experience. You see that in the curved, wavelike joinery, the soft textures and the way the light moves through the rooms. The floor to ceiling windows and the wraparound balconies mean you are constantly connected to the ocean, whether you’re waking up, relaxing on the lounge or taking a bath outdoors.

These suites were created for guests who want a bit more space and a bit more indulgence. That could be couples looking for a romantic escape, friends on a girls’ weekend, or families who want room to spread out without losing the sense of being right on the beach. The outdoor bathtubs overlooking the water have already had a lot of interest, and I think that’s because they offer something you rarely find in Sydney: a luxury suite with a terrace and an outdoor bath that lets you slow down, sip a glass of champagne and take in the views from your own private nook.

With Shutters Restaurant & Bar and Rick Stein launching as the Australian flagship, how integral is the F&B offering to the hotel’s overall positioning?

Food and drink are central to the way we want guests to experience InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach. By the beach, great dining becomes part of the natural rhythm of the day, fresh simple ingredients treated with care, showcasing the very best of local produce. This is the philosophy behind Shutters Restaurant & Bar: ingredient-led, coastal and effortless yet elevated in every detail.

Rick Stein brings a complementary energy with a focus on seafood and produce-driven cooking that perfectly reflects the seaside setting. Both restaurants are designed to stand as destinations in their own right, not simply hotel outlets.

Our F&B offering has always been crafted with locals in mind as much as our guests. We want people from Coogee, the Eastern Suburbs and beyond to feel welcome whether it’s for a leisurely lunch, a sunset drink or a relaxed dinner that feels like a mini escape. If Shutters Restaurant & Bar and Rick Stein become part of people’s weekly rhythm, that is the true measure of success. Together, they help define the hotel’s positioning as a place to slow down, savour exceptional food and enjoy the effortless pleasures of a coastal retreat whether staying overnight or simply visiting for a meal.

Wellness is another key consideration for this hotel. Can you elaborate on the new Spa, Leisure Deck and Infinity Pool debuting in March 2026?

NYE demand has been extraordinary with some rooms said to be selling for over $5,000. How are you forecasting occupancy and ADR performance for the first year of operations and which segments do you see your strongest bookings coming from?

We have seen strong demand throughout our opening period including New Year’s Eve where interest has well exceeded expectations. In our first year, we anticipate a strong domestic market alongside growing international visitors seeking a luxury beachfront experience complemented by guests drawn to our suites, dining and conferences and events offering. Early performance signals a healthy outlook for both occupancy and ADR as Sydney embraces a new style of coastal luxury.

What does success look like for InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach in its first 12 months?

Success for us is twofold: creating a hotel that guests feel connected to and becoming a meaningful part of the Coogee community.

If our guests leave feeling restored, welcomed and immersed in the beauty of the coastline and if locals feel proud to have a destination like this on their doorstep, then we have achieved what we set out to do.

Operationally, success is about delivering consistency, elevating the guest journey as each phase of the hotel opens and establishing InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach as one of the most distinctive luxury hotels in Australia. The first year lays the foundation for our team, for our reputation and for the legacy we want to build along Sydney’s eastern coastline.