BY JAMES WILKINSON

Parkroyal has officially returned to Australia with the rebranding of two Crowne Plaza properties to Parkroyal Darling Harbour and Parkroyal Parramatta.

Rebranded: Parkroyal Darling Harbour, Sydney

The first Parkroyal hotel opening in Australia in 1962, but has been absent for the late decade following the integration of the brand into the InterContinental Hotels Group portfolio.

The Parkroyal brand was later purchased by Pan Pacific Hotels Group, which now owns and operates hotels in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar.

Pan Pacific Hotels Group President and CEO, A. Patrick Imbardelli said the rebranding of these two hotels was just the start of things to come.

“This is the beginning of an aggressive growth plan for this market and we are thrilled to have two exceptional properties to commence our Australian presence,” he said.

“Parkroyal’s focus is on great hotels with locations that ensure guests have access to everything a city has to offer, so the Darling Harbour and Parramatta locations are a perfect fit and we’re looking forward to them being very successful,” Imbardelli said.

The 345-room Parkroyal Darling Harbour was rebranded from Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour and is located moments away from the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, while Parkroyal Parramatta (rebranded from Crowne Plaza Parramatta) features 196 rooms and is located on Church Street.

The two Parkroyals will be joined in the family by Australia’s first Pan Pacific hotel in early 2011 when the Pan Pacific Perth (formerly Sheraton Perth), changes signs.