The Archibald development on the site of the old Union Hotel at the corner of Donnison and Mann Sts, Gosford, is going ahead in leaps and bounds, with IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) partnering with leading Sydney developer ALAND to open voco Gosford in early 2025.
The seventh international voco hotel in Australia will form part of the mixed-use development precinct which overlooks Brisbane Water.
Named after Archibald Acheson, the second Earl of Gosford, the highly anticipated development covers 5,656sqm and will include 320 residential apartments, a 130-room lifestyle hotel, a portfolio of impressive hospitality venues and a podium outdoor pool with swim-up bar.
The design-focused hotel will feature guest rooms of up to 41sqm and executive suites of up to 54sqm.
There will be a street-level pub and pizzeria, a rooftop sky bar and lounge on level 28, a signature restaurant under celebrity chef Dany Karam (former Executive Chef at the award-winning restaurant Black Bar and Grill in Pyrmont), a wellness centre and a total of 610sqm of conference and events facilities.
The voco name, originating from the Latin ‘to invite’, represents the brand’s unstuffy nature, with guests experiencing a warm welcome, simple check-in, an arrival gift, lively social spaces and guest rooms with luxury amenities and fast Wi-Fi.
Marking IHG’s continued expansion into regional Australia, the hotel will be the second voco in regional NSW.
IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Director of Development for Australasia & Pacific Cameron Burke said it was the company’s first partnership with ALAND.
“This is an incredibly exciting development, and we are delighted to be part of a project that will transform the city of Gosford into a new lifestyle destination,” he said.
“I have no doubt the addition of voco to the city will help drive tourism across the region, and the adjacent hospitality amenity is sure to be a popular driver of patronage.
“We’re excited about the growth opportunities we see in regional Australia and are passionate about providing more choices for our loyalty members.”
ALAND Founder and Director Andrew Hrsto said the development would enliven the Gosford CBD and take the city to the next level.
“Archibald is set to reposition Gosford as a major destination for holidaymakers and corporate hospitality,” he said.
“The voco brand was the perfect fit for what is set to be a vibrant lifestyle destination on the Central Coast, at a time of significant growth and investment in Gosford.
“By integrating the voco brand into our development, residents will benefit from the atmosphere and amenities of a world-class hotel right at their doorstep, creating a cohesive experience of luxury everyday living for anyone who resides at the Archibald or is visiting as a guest.”
Launched in 2018 with the opening of voco Gold Coast, voco hotels has quickly become the fastest-growing brand within IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Premium collection with properties in 18 countries.