Accor will take over leases on six hotels:

• Fortland Burke & Wills and Outback Motor Inn in Mt Isa; 
• Fortland Leichardt Hotel in Rockhampton; 
• Fortland Burke & Wills Hotel in Toowoomba; 
• Fortland Four Dice Hotel in Mackay; 
• and Fortland Diplomat Hotel in Alice Springs. 

The hotels (except for Oasis Lodge) will be rebranded as Mercure Hotels or Inns. They join a network of over 35 Mercure hotels in Australia, including many prime regional destinations. All the hotels will join the Accor group under long term lease and management agreements.

Commenting on the addition of the Fortland portfolio, Accor Managing Director Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific and Japan, Michael Issenberg, said: �The addition of the Fortland Group hotels is a highly strategic move for Accor. It gives us representation in a number of major regional centres for the first time, and all seven hotels are extremely well positioned in their respective markets.
 

�It has been Accor�s long-term goal to build a comprehensive network of hotels that includes both capital and regional centres. We were the first hotel group to have representation in every State and Territory, and now we are again leading the sector in building a strong regional network. �Cities such as Mt Isa, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Mackay and Alice Springs

Burke & Wills Hotel Toowoomba

�Regional tourism will benefit considerably by Accor�s move, as these centres will now have the advantage of being supported by internationally recognised hotel brands, as well as the expertise and resources of a global sales, marketing and reservations network. The importance of networks has never been greater, and is set to increase further in the years to come. It enables our guests to take advantage of �one stop shopping� - with some 100 hotels across Australia available for booking via one telephone call or the one internet site. 

�The driving force behind the Fortland Hotel Trust has been Sir Frank Moore, a pioneer of Queensland and Australian tourism. We are particularly pleased that Sir Frank will continue to be involved with the hotels, and we look forward to working closely with him to further develop their potential. 

�For the employees of the Fortland hotels, they will now have greater opportunity to develop their careers, through extra training and through the ability to move to other hotels in the Accor group.�

Accor with 130,000 associates in 140 countries, is the European leader and one of the world�s largest groups in travel, tourism and services with two major international activities: hotels: 3,400 hotels (370,000 rooms) in 90 countries (including nearly 100 hotels in Australia under the brands Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, All Seasons, Ibis and Formule 1), and travel agencies, restaurants and casinos; services: each day, over 11 million people in 30 countries use a broad range of services (vouchers and cards, online services) developed, issued and managed by Accor on behalf of corporate clients and public authorities.