NOVOTEL COVERS AUSTRALIA AS ADELAIDE HOTEL OPENS

Novotel the first to offer national 'one stop shop' for travellers

Tuesday 18 April 2000: Following the rebranding of the Adelaide Parkroyal to

the Novotel Adelaide on Hindley today, Novotel is the only hotel brand in

Australia to be represented in every state and territory and every mainland

capital city.

The first quarter of 2000 has proven to be the Novotel brand's most

significant period in Australia since the first Novotel was launched in

Sydney in 1991. In the first three months of 2000, one of Australia's

highest profile hotels - the Novotel Homebush Bay at Sydney's Olympic Park -

opened, followed by Novotel Canberra, and now the178 room Novotel Adelaide

on Hindley, regarded as Adelaide's leading 4-star hotel.

Enjoying a premier location on Hindley Street in the heart of the central

business district, close to the Convention Centre, the 'West End' location

is attracting new business infrastructure, including the West Coffee Palace

development for ArtSA and the $30 million Adelaide Institute Tafe Centre for

Performing and Visual Arts.

A popular base for business travellers, the hotel is close to completing the

refurbishment of all rooms including the 39 suites. Accommodation facilities

include some rooms with faxes and kitchenettes, and all separate modem

points. Non-smoking floors are also available.

The conference level includes six conference rooms with a maximum capacity

of 420 delegates theatre style and a private mezzanine are overlooking the

lobby is perfect for meeting breaks or cocktails.

For leisure travellers, the Novotel offers easy access to the Rundle Mall

shopping precinct, Adelaide Casino and the Festival Centre. The hotel has a

heated swimming pool, sauna and gym and offers the serious fitness fan

access to a nearby health centre at reduced rates. As a Novotel too, the

hotel includes the brand's global kids policy where two children under 16

years stay free including breakfast. It will also offer the international

Novotel kid's club, Dolfi during school holidays.

Hotel General Manager, Mr Zayne Boon returns to the Hindley hotel (having

held the position of Rooms Division Manager in 1992) from Novotel Opal Cove

Resort where he held the position of General Manager.

"Known for its central location and superior service, the Novotel Adelaide

has a strong reputation in the marketplace and a loyal customer base," Mr

Boon said.

"The Novotel brand complements the hotel's existing reputation and provides

our new and existing customers with the benefits of an international

'business class' leader, that is national coverage and contracts,

centralised bookings on a global level and leading service and facilities",

Mr Boon concluded.

"This is a highly strategic addition for the Accor and Novotel networks in

Australia," said Michael Issenberg, Managing Director Australia/New Zealand

for Accor, managers of Novotel.

"We have been seeking a hotel in Adelaide for a number of years, and the

Hindley ideally fits the Novotel brand. It joins a network of prime business

and resort hotels.

"For corporate travellers no other hotel group can offer such a

comprehensive network of 'business class' hotels. This is an important

advantage when dealing with corporate clients, conference organisers,

inbound tour operators and government. It allows a one-stop shop, with a

guarantee of consistent quality of product and service," Issenberg

concluded.

The addition of the Novotel Adelaide on Hindley will increase the Novotel

network in Australia to 19 hotels and resorts, and some 350 Novotels

globally.

Accor is the world's largest hotel and tourism company, with over 3,400

hotels (including 90 in Australia) under the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis

and Formule 1 brands. Accor is also a European leader in travel agencies,

catering, restaurants, casinos and corporate services.

Other Accor hotels in South Australia include Grand Mercure Hotel Mount

Lofty House and the All Seasons Barossa Valley.