A development application has been lodged for construction of the hotel on land on the corner of O�Riordan and King Streets, Mascot, and it is anticipated that following approval, the advanced building process will see the hotel built in nine months, ready for opening by the end of 1999.

Ibis is one of the world�s most popular 3-star brands, with some 350 hotels globally, including five in Australia. A further two Ibis hotels are set to open in Sydney in 1999 � at World Square in the city centre and in the Olympic Village at Homebush Bay.

The Ibis 2003 project is based on providing a uniform product, with identical rooms, similar facilities and genuine value rates. The Australian design will be similar to Ibis 2003 hotels opened recently in London and Berlin. 

The six-storey Hotel Ibis Sydney Airport will have a stylish and contemporary architectural design, featuring 194 rooms, informal restaurant and bar, car parking, and 24 hour reception.

Commenting on the planned debut of Ibis 2003 in Australia, Accor Asia Pacific Managing Director Australia/New Zealand, Mr Michael Issenberg, said that the streamlined method used for building Ibis 2003 hotels enables Accor to ensure uniformly high standards of construction and design and shorter construction times, enabling the hotel to offer the best possible quality-price ratio.

�Because much of the hotel design is fully standardised we are able to reduce design and development costs significantly,� said Mr Issenberg. �However, while optimising the construction costs, this industrial flexibility also allows us to adapt some areas to special themes and to fit the architecture of the building into the local setting.

�The Sydney Airport area is an ideal place to launch the new Ibis as the area does not have any international 3-star accommodation and the area has grown rapidly both in airport-related services and other industrial and commercial business.�

Mr Issenberg said the additional accommodation would also be valuable for catering for the demands of the 2000 Olympics.

Ibis hotels are managed by Accor, the world�s largest hotel operating company, with 2800 hotels under brands including Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis and Formule 1. Accor is also the largest hotel company in Australia, with 60 hotels and a further five set for completion in 1999. In addition, Accor is a major international operator in car rental, travel services, catering and restaurants.