Name change raises the stakes for Sydney hotel

What's in a name? Well, when it's the name of a hotel it seems that it is all about status. The Old Sydney Parkroyal in George St has become Old Sydney Holiday Inn.

The chief operating officer for Bass Hotels and Resorts for the South Pacific region, Tony South, says that the renaming sets a deliberately high benchmark for the Holiday Inns in the region and clearly indicates where the brand will sit in the marketplace.

The hotel has a loyal following from domestic and international markets because of its prime location in the historic Rocks area. The mid-market Holiday Inns organisation, with more than 1500 hotels, is the largest single hotel brand worldwide.