Crowne Plaza Geelong: Delivering a high-performance technology foundation for a landmark waterfront hotel
Crowne Plaza Geelong: Delivering a high-performance technology foundation for a landmark waterfront hotel
22.05.26
Crowne Plaza Geelong is set to become a landmark destination on the Geelong waterfront, forming part of a broader multi-million dollar precinct development led by Plenary Group.
As a fully managed IHG property, the hotel required complete, enterprise-grade technology environment to be designed, coordinated and delivered ahead of opening day, aligned to strict global standards and capable of supporting a seamless guest experience from day one.
The Challenge
Delivering IT for a new-build hotel is not simply a deployment exercise. It requires coordinating a highly complex ecosystem of systems, vendors and stakeholders, all within the constraints of a live construction environment.
For Crowne Plaza Geelong, this meant aligning with IHG’s global technology standards across all systems while coordinating multiple parties, including Plenary Group, WSP, builders and a wide range of technology vendors. At the same time, the project required careful management of dependencies across networking, PMS, POS, security, guest services and core infrastructure, ensuring everything was fully integrated and operational at launch.
Maintaining strict control over quality, timelines and budget was critical throughout, with success relying not just on technical delivery, but on structured project management and strong stakeholder alignment across the full lifecycle of the build.
The Solution
Infinet was engaged to deliver a fully integrated, end-to-end technology environment, spanning design, coordination, implementation and commissioning.
End-to-end technology ecosystem
The solution included the design and integration of:
Guest and administrative networks aligned to IHG standards
Property Management System (PMS) and core hospitality platforms
Point of Sale (POS) and food and beverage systems
Guest entertainment, IPTV and digital signage
Payment systems and PCI-compliant infrastructure
Security, access control and building management integrations
End-user devices, cybersecurity and productivity platforms
All systems were designed to operate as a unified ecosystem, ensuring seamless interaction across front-of-house and back-of-house operations.
Enterprise-grade infrastructure
The environment was underpinned by a resilient, high-performance architecture, including:
Redundant server infrastructure supporting multiple virtualised environments
Hybrid backup strategy combining onsite and cloud-based protection
High-availability network design with secure connectivity across all hotel areas
Scalable architecture to support future growth and evolving guest expectations
This ensured the platform could meet the demands of a 24/7 hospitality environment, where uptime and performance are non-negotiable.
Structured project delivery
Infinet applied a phased project management approach, covering:
Vendor selection and coordination
Detailed design and documentation
Installation and system integration
Testing, validation and commissioning
Post-deployment support readiness
Weekly coordination across all stakeholders ensured:
Clear communication
Rapid issue resolution
Alignment across all workstreams
This structured approach was critical in maintaining delivery momentum throughout construction.
The Outcome
The result was a fully operational, turnkey technology environment delivered in line with the hotel’s opening requirements.
Operational success
Delivered on time and on budget
Achieved low defect rates across all systems
Enabled a fully functional hotel environment from day one
Within the first week of opening, the hotel reached 90–95% occupancy, reflecting both market demand and operational readiness.
Quality and accountability across vendors
Infinet’s approach introduced a new level of discipline and accountability across the contractor ecosystem.
By applying enterprise-grade project management controls:
Vendors were held to higher quality standards
Issues were identified and resolved early
Corrective actions were enforced consistently
This resulted in stronger outcomes across all technology workstreams, not just those directly delivered by Infinet.
Performance and reliability
The environment was designed to meet the demands of a mission-critical hospitality operation, including:
24/7/365 availability
Target uptime of 99.999%
High-performance infrastructure supporting all guest and operational systems
This ensures the hotel can deliver a consistent, uninterrupted experience for both guests and staff.
Enhanced guest experience
At its core, the solution enables a frictionless, connected guest journey, including:
Seamless check-in and access to services
Integrated room service and dining systems
Easy booking of hotel amenities and experiences
Reliable, high-speed connectivity throughout the property
By integrating all systems into a cohesive platform, the hotel is able to deliver a modern, intuitive and consistent experience aligned with IHG’s global brand standards.
Future-ready platform
The architecture also supports:
Reduced on-premise footprint through modern application delivery
Improved supportability and operational efficiency
Alignment with sustainability and ESG objectives
Flexibility to evolve with future hospitality technologies
“I have found the process with Infinet very professional and the team provided a structured reporting and updating facility that enabled the hotel to deal with the various stages of the project in a timeframe that ensured the job completion on time.”
John Dickson, General Manager
IHG Crown Plaza Geelong