Rydges brand to take control of Schwartz family’s Hunter Valley hotel haven
Dr Jerry Schwartz, best known as Australia’s largest private owner of hotels, has appointed EVT (Entertainment. Ventures. Travel) to operate his Hunter Valley resort complex.
EVT owns the Rydges brand, with Schwartz’s 414-room Crowne Plaza resort to now be relaunched as the Rydges Resort Hunter Valley.
The rebranded hotel will open in May after Rydges beat out Hilton, Accor and Marriott for the property.
EVT takes over operations following the end of IHG’s 10-year management agreement.
Schwartz was impressed with EVT’s food and beverage offerings, its conference experience and its ability to smoothly run the reservation process.
Rydges currently manages four Schwartz owned hotels, with the Hunter valley hotel to become the fifth. Schwartz has big plans for the wine country property including a $15 million, 100-room hotel on the large estate and a staged $30 metre tennis academy.
Any construction will be subject to council approval.
“I am continually updating it and we are now finishing three equestrian arenas for the first Hunter Valley equestrian event in a few weeks’ time,” Schwartz said.
“I am also putting in a water slide, roller coaster, relocating the brewery to larger premises and putting in glamping domes.
“We are starting off with three glamping domes and if that is successful, we will put in half a dozen.”
Hotel occupancy is currently at 75-80 per cent, with about 95 per cent filling rooms on the weekends and holidays.
Under the agreement with Schwartz Family Company-owned hotels, EVT will extend its contract for Rydges World Square Sydney and Rydges Sydney Central management contract.
EVT director of hotels and resorts Norman Arundel said of the new agreement, “Being an Australian company makes a big difference. We will integrate ourselves in the local community.
“There is a bit of staff shortage (but) being an Australian company we are not just a hotel company, we are movies, we have over 150 restaurants, we have Thredbo we have launched great staff wellness and support services; being Australian makes a big difference.
“We have a good relationship with Jerry Schwartz … we have an aligned culture with the Schwartz Family Company, the other four hotels have been great successes and both Jerry Schwartz and EVT are committed to doing more together.
“We are very respectful of the existing business. Jerry has a commitment to going forward; we want to get in there and pull those plans together in the months ahead.”
Jonathan Jackson - 1-3-23
