10 October 2012: Today, the renowned Quay Grand Suites Sydney will rebrand to Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, signalling a dramatic expansion of Accor’s 5-star Pullman brand in Australia.

Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour joins two other Pullmans in Sydney – Pullman Sydney Olympic Park and Pullman Sydney Hyde Park (currently completing a massive upgrading programme following its re-branding from Sydney Marriott in May 2012). It also joins Pullman Reef Casino in Cairns and the recently rebadged Pullman Resort Bunker Bay in Western Australia’s Margaret River region.

The Sebel Cairns, The Sebel King George Square Brisbane and The Sebel Albert Park Melbourne are all primed to take on Pullman branding within the next six months, which puts Pullman on track to becoming Australia’s largest 5-star network, with the brand expected to grow to up to 15 hotels by the end of 2013.

While the Pullman name may be relatively new to Australians, the Pullman name has a very rich international pedigree, having changed the face of long-distance travel in 19th century America and, later, in Britain. The Pullman name refers to the opulent train carriages that were designed by George Pullman in the mid-1800s which transformed travel and dining across America and became a by-word for luxury and quality. Accor acquired the Pullman name in 1991, and at the time a number of hotels – including the famed Metropole Hotel in Hanoi – operated as Pullman hotels. Accor re-launched the brand in 2007 and the brand has now established a network of over 60 hotels in many of the world’s key cities (London, Paris, Dubai, Bangkok, Shanghai, Sydney, Auckland) and favourite resort destinations (Cannes, Bali. Phuket, Cairns and Margaret River).

Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour is an outstanding addition to the network. Set majestically on the eastern shore of Circular Quay and overlooking Sydney Harbour, the Pullman is only steps away from the central business district and the city’s key attractions including the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Botanical Gardens and all the bustle of Circular Quay.

The hotel boasts 67 contemporary one and two-bedroom suites, all of which come with balconies, separate lounge and dining rooms, gourmet kitchens and deluxe bathrooms, and offer spectacular views either of Sydney Harbour or the Botanical Gardens. Work desks and wireless internet are available in all suites, making the hotel a popular choice for business guests.

The hotel offers fine dining in Quadrant Restaurant, while the glass-encased ECQ Bar was re-launched in 2011 and is one of Sydney’s most popular venues for sunset drinks and pre-show dinners.

Pullman hotels are synonymous with providing quality meeting facilities, and Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour proves this to be the case, with three unique function rooms, some with spectacular harbour views. The function space can cater for up to 140 guests.

Chief Operating Officer of Accor Pacific, Simon McGrath, said growing the Pullman brand in Australia was a key priority for the group, with many of the former Mirvac hotels scheduled to be re-branded to Pullman over the next twelve months.

“The Pullman brand holds such a rich history and is highly regarded throughout Asia and Europe, and it makes sense for us to grow this brand in Australia where there is clear demand for quality internationally-branded hotels aimed at the corporate and upscale leisure markets.

“We see Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour as one of the brand’s flagship hotels in the region and it will be the venue for the Pullman Global Launch in December, as we celebrate the strength and growth of the Pullman brand.

“There is considerable investment being made in the Pullman network in both Australia and internationally, and the expansion of the brand in Australia comes at a time when the brand is launching signature hotels in other major centres around the world. Pullman is already a major brand in key source markets for Australia across Asia and Europe, and it is anticipated that there will be some 150 Pullman hotels and resorts by 2015.”

For further information: www.pullmanhotels.com

About Pullman
Pullman is the upscale international hotel brand of Accor, the world’s leading hotel operator, present in 92 countries with over 4,400 hotels and 145,000 employees. Located in the main regional and international cities and in prime tourist destinations, Pullman Hotels & Resorts is principally designed to cater for the requirements of cosmopolitan, seasoned travelers. The brand’s four and five-star establishments provide an extensive range of tailored services, access to groundbreaking technologies, including a new approach to organizing events: meetings, seminars and upscale incentive events. At Pullman hotels, customers can choose between being independent or be given a helping hand by staff available around the clock.The Pullman network has more than 60 hotels in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.Our objective is to have 150 hotels around the world by 2015-2020. Pullman, like most of brands within Accor's portfolio, is proud to offer the Le Club Accor hotels(R) loyalty program.

Further information concerning the Pullman hotels is available on www.pullmanhotels.com.

About Accor
Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, is present in 90 countries with more than 4,200 hotels and 500,000 rooms. Accor's broad portfolio of hotel brands - Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, all seasons/ibis Styles, Etap Hotel/Formule 1/ibis budget, hotelF1 and Motel 6 - provide an extensive offer from luxury to budget. With 145,000 employees worldwide, the Group offers to its clients and partners nearly 45 years of know-how and expertise.