Reclaiming the grandeur of an iconic harbour-side hotel

InterContinental Sydney Double Bay | Hotel

Sydney, 2021–2022

Following the $178m acquisition in 2021, Projects of Place was appointed by the new owners of the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay to help restore the hotel's former prestige. The landmark 140-room harbour-side property, designed by Bates Smart and managed by IHG Hotels & Resorts, features expansive function and conference facilities, retail, fitness center, dining venues, and a rooftop pool and bar in Sydney's prestigious Double Bay.

We conducted a comprehensive customer experience audit that identified immediate opportunities to elevate design, ambience, and amenity across the property. Critically, the underperforming dining and bar spaces presented an opportunity to activate the hotel as both a guest destination and a neighborhood drawcard for the local community—a dual-purpose strategy that would drive revenue while repositioning the hotel's cultural relevance.

Our strategy included partnering with esteemed restaurateur Maurice Terzini of Bondi's Icebergs Dining Room & Bar to reimagine the food and beverage offering. This partnership resulted in the launch of 'The Bar'—a classic cocktail and supper club featuring velvet seating, fine silverware, and nightly live piano and jazz performances that captured the sophisticated intimacy the hotel had been missing.

The repositioned customer experience delivered immediate results: revenue uplift, improved competitive positioning, and national and international recognition from hospitality and lifestyle media. 'The Bar' won Hotel Bar of the Year at the HM Awards for Excellence 2022.