Waldorf Astoria slated for Australian debut with new Sydney hotel

Hilton's plan to beef up its luxury hotel portfolio now includes a major property Down Under.

The U.S. hotel company inked a deal with developer AW Holding Group to bring a Waldorf Astoria to Sydney, Australia's largest city, Hilton announced on Monday. The 28-story Waldorf Astoria Sydney, already under construction and on track to open in early 2025, will include 179 guest rooms and 41 suites on the Sydney Harbor waterfront.

The new hotel will provide a boost for the ultra-luxury hotel brand presence in Sydney. Currently, the city is limited in this regard to brands such as Four Seasons, The Langham and Park Hyatt.

"As the first Waldorf Astoria property to debut in Australia, Waldorf Astoria Sydney signals Hilton's commitment to expanding our luxury portfolio to the world's most sought-after destinations," Matt Schuyler, Hilton's chief brand officer, said in a statement. "Our highly personalized, elegant service and iconic environments are at the heart of every hotel, and we look forward to delivering unforgettable experiences to our guests in Sydney."

The hotel, when complete, will join the six-hotel portfolio Waldorf Astoria has across the entire Asia Pacific region.

It won't be the only place for Hilton Honors members to earn and redeem points in the Australasia region, which also includes New Zealand. Hilton has an additional 29 hotels open and 12 in the works across various flags including its namesake brand, DoubleTree, Curio Collection and Hilton Garden Inn.

The property will have views of famous landmarks like the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. The Waldorf hotel site is part of One Circular Quay, a mixed-use development that also features a 61-story apartment tower. It will take roughly 20 minutes by car or train from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), the city's primary airport, to the hotel when it opens.

The Waldorf will feature two original restaurants as well as a rooftop bar and Peacock Alley, a lounge found in many Waldorf properties around the world and that pays homage to the brand's original hotel in New York City.

Prices (in either cash or points) are not yet available for the Waldorf Astoria Sydney.

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While the Waldorf name might initially conjure up imagery of classic New York society, Hilton has ramped up development in recent years to build up the brand's modern luxury presence around the world.

Hilton is underway with the development of 20 additional Waldorf hotels, including a conversion of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The Sydney project is wind in the sails to the idea hotel developers are taking the long view of the pandemic's recovery. Pandemic travel restrictions aren't leaving much of an effect on those who build hotels, it appears.

Related: 10 new hotels in Australia you can visit now that the country is reopening to tourists

There have been questions on various hotel earnings calls with respect to whether companies would pull back on projects in the Asia Pacific region where prolonged international lockdowns from the pandemic stunted hotel performance. But major hotel CEOs from companies like Marriott and IHG Hotels & Resorts have said they remain committed to that part of the world.

The Waldorf in Sydney project is further evidence of that claim from the team at Hilton.