Accor appointed new manager of New Zealand lakefront hotel

One of Queenstown's best positioned 4-star hotels, the Gardens Parkroyal, will be rebranded to Accor's Novotel brand following its sale to prominent Australian and New Zealand hotel-owning company, Tourism Asset Holdings Limited (TAHL).

Current managers, Six Continents, will be replaced by Accor as long-term managers of the hotel when the new owners take possession of the property in early 2003. The hotel will be re-launched as Novotel Gardens Queenstown.

This will be the 47th hotel in TAHL's network, and its eighth hotel in New Zealand. TAHL is one of the largest hotel owners in New Zealand, with hotels under the Novotel, Mercure and Ibis brands.

The re-branded Novotel will be the third Accor hotel in Queenstown, joining the Mercure Grand St Moritz (winner of this year's 'Best Hotel' award in the New Zealand Tourism Awards) and Novotel Queenstown at Fernhill.

The new Novotel consists of 204 rooms, a restaurant, bar and car-parking facilities. Most of the hotel's rooms and public areas were refurbished in 2000, but the remainder of the hotel will be upgraded as part of the rebranding.

The hotel enjoys one of the best locations of any hotel in the alpine destination, situated on the waterfront of Lake Wakatipu and in the heart of the town's shopping, restaurant and entertainment district. Most of the  rooms have views across the lake or the elegant gardens that are a feature of the hotel.

Announcing the signing of the agreement, Accor Managing Director Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific & Japan, Michael Issenberg, said that prospects for Queenstown and New Zealand tourism were very favourable.

"The addition of another Novotel in Queenstown is very well-timed, as New Zealand continues to record strong increases in inbound travel, and Queenstown is regarded as one of the region's most attractive resort destinations," he said.

"Despite September 11 and airline difficulties, New Zealand's inbound market has been very resilient and the destination is even more attractive in these uncertain times. International visitors to New Zealand increased by 7% between July 2001 and June 2002, and with Queenstown already receiving 54% of total international visitor nights in New Zealand, the potential for growing occupancies in Queenstown is excellent.

"Future demand for Queenstown appears to be very promising particularly with the recent establishment of direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane, as well as major New Zealand centres. This has created the opportunity of high-yield weekend and short-stay visitors as well as conference and incentive groups coming from Australia, particularly during the ski season.

"Few destinations can offer such a vast range of activities and attractions, and Queenstown, with its adventure sports and variety of quality restaurants and bars, is already well-established with the younger market.

"Accor will now be able to offer a wide range of accommodation styles in Queenstown, from the suite accommodation of Mercure Grand St Moritz through to quality 4-star accommodation at the Gardens and Fernhill Novotels."

Accor operates 12 hotels in New Zealand under the Novotel, Mercure and Ibis brands.