Accor, the largest hotel operator in Australia and New Zealand, is this month taking over the management of the Wairakei Resort Hotel.
The new Accor management partnership with Bayview International Hotels and Resorts was announced in a release in early May and also includes two Australian businesses – The Sydney Boulevard Hotel, and Bayview Geographe Resort in Western Australia.
The properties would undergo extensive refurbishments before being relaunched under Accor brands which would improve their appeal to both domestic and international travellers, the release said.
Until then, the hotels would continue operating under their current names.
Wairakei Resort, in geothermally active Wairakei, offers 187 guestrooms, a nine-hole golf course, a geothermal swimming pool, day spa, several dining venues, and extensive conference facilities.
Adrian Williams, chief operating officer for Accor's premium, midscale and economy division in the Pacific said Accor was continuing to expand its presence in the Pacific.
“Our vision is to elevate guest experiences through our powerful brands, Accor Live Limitless (ALL) loyalty program, and world-class service offering.”
There was a comprehensive refurbishment plan in place for the hotels.
“We can’t wait to unveil their refreshed identities and welcome even more travellers to these remarkable locations,” Williams said.
Derek Yan, vice president projects and product development for Bayview said the collaboration would allow the company to elevate the properties to new heights.
“We are confident that these hotels will thrive, offering even greater experiences for our valued guests,” he said.
Accor operates more than 400 hotels in the Pacific region under brands such as Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Novotel, TRIBE, Mercure, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget.
Bayview a hospitality company run by the Loh family, was founded by its parent company, Oriental Holdings Berhad, in 1963.
Oriental has owned Wairakei Resort since 1991, under a separate subsidiary called Kah New Zealand, and also owns the mothballed Chateau Tongariro.
The Chateau is not included in the Accor deal and no light cast was on its fate in the recent announcement that Whakapapa Holdings would take over operating the Whakapapa skifield on Mr Ruapehu.
However, Whakapapa Holdings has expressed an interest in taking over its restoration.
