Accor readies for upgrades

Hotel group Accor is gearing up for a multi-million dollar refurbishment program of its Western Australian hotels, in addition to the opening of its new $12 million Broome hotel complex.

Entering the Western Australian hotel market in 1993 with one hotel, Perth’s Novotel Langley, the Accor group now has 16 hotels in WA, including the new hotel in Broome.

Currently under construction adjacent to its existing Mercure Inn Continental Broome, the new 70-room hotel will be a deluxe option for tourists, offering spa rooms and executive suites with lounge, kitchenettes and spectacular views of Roebuck Bay.

The hotel is expected to be open in about June 2008.

The Accor group is also about to embark on a $1.5 million refurbishment program across its regional properties in the state’s north-west.

Starting in January, the program will begin with a full refurbishment at the All Seasons Port Hedland.

This will include new bedding, televisions, painting, furniture, fixtures and equipment, with a new colour scheme consistent with the All Seasons’ properties around the globe.

The All Seasons Karratha is next in line for a full refurbishment, followed by the All Seasons Kalgoorlie.

Soft refurbishments will take place at the All Seasons Kununurra, before completing the regional program at the All Seasons Geraldton. 

All refurbishments are expected to be completed by July 2008.

Accor's WA regional general manager, Llewellyn Wyeth, said the group was looking to capitalise on the strength of the north-west tourism market, which had undergone significant growth.

At its Perth property, the Mercure Hotel Perth, the group will be upgrading its conference facilities, aiming to make the hotel a market leader in the medium size conference market.

The upgrades, starting on January 7, will include additional soundproofing, lighting and audio-visual upgrades and changes to the decor.

In May 2008, the hotel will also undergo a refurbishment of 113 rooms, which follows on from the refurbishment of 120 rooms in 2005.

The total cost of the project is about $3 million.

The Accor group manages properties under the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, All Seasons and Formule 1 brands.