INTERNATIONAL HOTEL GROUPS ANNOUNCE NEW INVESTMENT

In a nod to the ongoing strength of the NSW visitor economy, international hotel groups Accor and the Langham have recently announced new investments to develop and support their interests in Sydney and Regional NSW.

Accor continues the expansion of its Ibis economy brand portfolio with a new development, ibis Styles The Entrance, located on the NSW Central Coast, while both Novotel and the Langham have announced multimillion dollar refurbishments to hotels in Sydney.

Set to open in December, ibis Styles The Entrance will house 52 guestrooms, with access to two restaurants, three bars and three meeting rooms. It will be the 28th ibis Styles hotel in Australia, joining the global ibis Styles network of over 260 hotels.

Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer, Simon McGrath, said, “The addition of ibis Styles The Entrance is a testament to Accor’s strength in the economy hotel sector and reinforces our proven ability to produce a premium economy product in a sector that has rapidly changed over the past decade.”

Novotel Darling Harbour, also part of the Accor group, has launched “an exciting new restaurant and dining concept” as part of a multimillion dollar refurbishment of its public areas. Once completed, the property will offer two “kitchen theatres” (an Asian and an OZ grill), where people can watch their food being prepared, and a wine bar.

Novotel ‎Area General Manager Ruwan Peiris said, “We are looking to push the boundaries and move away from the traditional hotel restaurant and dining concept with this transformation.”

The Langham has confirmed that a $30 million refurbishment will see its Sydney hotel closed to guests for four months. When it reopens at the end of 2014 guests will be greeted by a remodelled lobby, dining areas, guestrooms and ballroom. Signature Langham luxuries like an all-inclusive Chuan Spa and Palm Court will also be introduced.

In addition, Pier One Sydney Harbour in The Rocks precinct is embarking upon a 17-week project to improve its lobby, dining and bar facilities. The waterfront hotel is the newest addition to a growing ensemble of independent hotels in the Autograph Collection.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase, said, “These new investments build upon the fantastic range of accommodation options in NSW, catering for the budget conscious to the luxury traveller, and the enhanced offerings will contribute to the NSW Government’s goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure to the State by 2020.”