IHG re-enters Darwin market with 88-suite voco as Top End visitation jumps 28 per cent
IHG Hotels & Resorts is set to return to Darwin after a decade away, with voco Darwin Suites to open in early May as Northern Territory visitation continues to climb.
The 88-suite property at 87 Mitchell St will feature a restaurant, meeting space, fitness centre and pool, targeting both leisure and corporate guests seeking longer-stay accommodation options in the Top End.
The Northern Territory Government says the development has delivered more than 200 local jobs, with Tourism and Hospitality Minister Marie-Clare Boothby touring the site alongside representatives from John Halikos Group and the hotel’s leadership team as construction approaches completion.
“To see an international brand like IHG establish itself in Darwin – backed by local investors like JH Group – is an exciting signal of confidence in the Territory economy,” she told the NT Times.
The opening comes as new figures point to a strong uplift in demand. Tourism Research Australia data shows visits to the territory increased 28 per cent to around 219,000 trips, while visitor expenditure rose 38 per cent to $445 million.
“Right across the world, people are discovering what we always knew: There’s nowhere like the Territory,” Boothby said.
“We are absolutely a destination of choice for visitors and investors, and this project is tangible proof.”
From the operator side, JH Group’s hotel portfolio general manager Sean DeSouza said the property is already generating solid interest ahead of opening.
“This is a unique product coming into the Territory – a premium offering which encourages longer stays,” he told the NT Times.
“After a decade that the IHG Group has been out of the Territory market, they are excited by the confidence and growth in the tourism market, offering us a chance to expand the footprint available to our guests and their One Reward members.”
“We’ve already seen a strong response to the number of forward bookings – particularly from our IHG premium-tier members – showing greater confidence and appeal in the Top End.”
Michael Malatos from JH Group said the timing aligned with broader momentum in the local economy and the continuing rise in visitor arrivals.
“We know that the territory is growing from strength to strength, and as international visitors and domestic guests continue to arrive, a premium hotel is the perfect fit,” he said.
“The Halikos family has always believed in building, investing in and supporting the local community, and we see this development as central to that commitment.”
Jonathan Jackson, 11th February 2026
