From a new benchmark for luxury on the Gold Coast to a hip neighbourhood haunt in Perth and a sustainable sanctuary taking root in Melbourne, you need to know about these international hotel brands making their Aussie debut.    

Flashback to 2019, and the biggest hotel news in the country was the opening of Ritz-Carlton, Perth, a re-entry into Australia for the luxury brand after 25 years. In the five years since, even a global pandemic couldn’t stop the tide of international hotel brands also making their Aussie debut. Hotel Indigo launched in Adelaide in 2021 and in 2022 and 2023, Ace Hotel, Kimpton and Capella shook up the scene in Sydney.   

The launch of the Ritz-Carlton at Elizabeth Quay was one of the buzziest hotel openings in recent times.

Handwritten Collection, which launched globally in 2023, has made its mark in Australia with Hotel Morris Sydney, Wonil Hotel Perth and Hotel Woolstore 1888 Sydney. 

And 2024 saw the Melbourne openings of design-led Le Méridien; StandardX, the first Aussie outpost of the hip Standard Hotel group; and Lanson Place Parliament Gardens, housed in a historic East Melbourne building.  

In a vote of confidence for our world-class cities, there’s plenty more on the horizon too. Here’s what global hotel brands to watch out for when they land in Australia in 2025 (and beyond).  

Mondrian Gold Coast  

Mondrian Gold Coast will be the hotel opening of 2025.

We’re calling it – this is going to be the hotel opening of the year. With a slated opening date of early 2025, all eyes will be on Burleigh Heads for the debut of the first Mondrian hotel in Australia.   

A boutique brand from fast-growing lifestyle hospitality company Ennismore, in a joint venture with Accor, Mondrian is known for its architectural and forward-thinking properties that sit at the cultural heart of destinations around the world from Miami to Ibiza.   

Mondrian Gold Coast is designed by leading Australian architects Fraser & Partners and will deliver a new level of luxury hospitality to one of the country’s favourite beach destinations. Unfolding over 24 storeys, it will also be a flagship for the brand with 208 design-led rooms and suites that drink in views of the Pacific Ocean.  

The sleek design – which includes two- and three-bedroom Beach Houses and the spectacular Sky House crowning the hotel – comes courtesy of award-winning Studio Carter and takes its cues from sugar-white sands and a pandanus-spiked coastline.   

And we can expect the food and beverage offering to be on point too, with restaurant and bar concepts that promise to harness the region’s local produce and vibe with the Burleigh social scene.  

1 Hotel Melbourne  

Fans of the hotel’s legacy will marvel at the 18-storey property located in the heart of Melbourne.

One of the world’s most sustainable luxury hotel brands, 1 Hotels is making its Australian debut in Melbourne in 2025. Set to open in May, 1 Hotel Melbourne will tread a light footprint on the banks of the Yarra River. Its 277 guest rooms, 114 residences and multiple dining options are all underscored by a sustainable, biophilic design that connects guests back to nature.   

A highlight of a stay here will be the brand’s curated Happenings programs, which will invite guests to get to know Melbourne through a 1 Hotels lens focused on art, nature and wellbeing.  

Its low-density location in the revitalised North Wharf Precinct is a deliberate choice, as is its position on the CBD free tram line; 1 Hotels around the world encourage guests to walk or take public transport to explore the places they’re located in.   

Launched in 2015, 1 Hotels is a mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand that has grown its portfolio outside of its native North America to encompass properties in the UK, Denmark, Greece, France, China and now Australia. Each stay is inspired by its natural environment and rooted in the local community.   

25hours Hotel The Olympia  

25hours’ shiny new gem reinterprets the building’s cinema history.

25hours Hotel The Olympia is set to open in June 2025. It will be Australia’s first 25hours Hotel and bolsters Sydney’s blooming boutique hotel scene.  

Also part of the Ennismore stable, 25hours Hotels pride themselves on their individualism and, from Berlin to Florence, are shaped by the art, culture and gastronomy of their surrounds. The new Paddington property is no exception, billing itself as a place for cinema lovers where the aesthetic pays tribute to the building’s origins as a picture theatre.  

Expect 109 guest rooms, including three concept suites, each with bespoke artwork by Sydney artist Kubi Vasak. There will be four standout wining and dining venues too, including Monica, a rooftop bar to add to your list of places to go for sky-high libations.   

Hyde Perth   

Hyde recently made its Turkish debut with the opening of Hyde Bodrum.

From Bodrum to Johannesburg, Hyde’s global properties are rooted in music culture.  And the bohemian Ennismore brand is landing in Perth in late 2025 – a city that has birthed some of Australia’s greatest bands, from The Triffids to Tame Impala.   

The 120-guest room property will be located in the heart of the CBD on Pier Street, complete with a destination restaurant and bar, and a buzzing cafe that opens out to a tropics-inspired outdoor pool. Dedicated entertainment spaces will come to life with a curated music program in keeping with Hyde’s festival vibe.   

The Hoxton  

The British hotel chain is known for its thoughtfully designed spaces, and its Melbourne development will be no exception.

The Hoxton’s series of hotels grounded in culture and community originated in London’s trendy Shoreditch neighbourhood in 2006.   

Slated for a 2027 opening, Ennismore has announced the signing of The Hoxton in Melbourne’s historic Cremorne suburb, today a melting pot for creativity and innovation.