Jul 13, 2026 – 6.07pmDeveloper Ross Pelligra, alongside global hospitality giant IHG Hotels & Resorts, has just opened an upmarket hotel in trendy Carlton on the edge of the Melbourne CBD but readily acknowledges the city is at low point in commercial confidence.“Melbourne’s only got one way to go, is up,” the prominent property developer told The Australian Financial Review as he launched the 107-room Crowne Plaza hotel on Monday, the suburb’s first internationally branded hotel.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles