Accor was appointed manager of the former Corus Hotel Hobart following its sale by Corus Hotels to Melbourne based investor group Lanco Hobart Holdings Pty Ltd. It is the first time Accor has operated a hotel in Hobart and marks a return to Tasmania for the group after a five year absence. It previously operated a Novotel in Launceston. Accor is now working in conjunction with the new owners to introduce Mercure

Mercure Hotel Hobart (formerly Corus Hotel Hobart) 156 Bathurst Street Hobart, TAS 7000 Australia

Conveniently located in the heart of Hobart's CBD on Bathurst Street, the Mercure Hobart is just 15 minutes drive from Hobart international airport and within easy walking distance to Hobart's major attractions including the Salamanca Markets and Constitution Dock.

The five-storey hotel, which was extensively renovated in 2000, features 140 rooms with contemporary comforts and a choice of standard, superior or executive rooms and deluxe suites.

Mercure Hobart features an executive lounge for business travellers as well as a stylish bar and signature restaurant. State-of-the-art conference facilities make the hotel a popular venue for meetings and functions, with undercover guest car parking available.

Accor Asia Pacific Managing Director Michael Issenberg says the Mercure Hobart "completes the jigsaw" for the group's Australian accommodation network.

"We are very excited about our return to Tasmania," he said. "It is very important for a group like ours to be able to offer a completely seamless service, offering hotels in every capital city around Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

"It is also very important for international travellers who are visiting Australia on business or leisure to know that they can book all key destinations with one call. The very fact that Accor has returned to Tasmania will encourage additional visitors to the State. We will be promoting the new hotel and the destination across Accor's network of hotels, through our loyalty programmes, through our on-line distribution channels, and throughout our sales, marketing and reservations network

"Tasmania has been one of the best-performing destinations in the Australian tourism industry in recent years with its unique and beautiful landscapes, rich colonial history and celebrated food and wines building its visitor base and interest with domestic and international travellers.

"We have been looking at a number of hotel projects in Tasmania over recent years and we believe this is an ideal property for our business and leisure guests. Its central location, quality facilities and reputation for value for money makes it an ideal addition to the Mercure and Accor networks."

Mercure Hobart joins a national network of some 40 Mercure hotels located in key commercial and leisure centres in Australia, and more than 700 Mercure properties globally. Mercure hotels can be found in key cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Singapore, Bangkok, Auckland, Wellington, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

Accor is the worldwide leader in hotels, tourism and corporate services, employing 168,000 people in 140 countries.

Rebecca Freestun
tel: 61-2-9280 9794
email: [email protected]