BY JAMES WILKINSON
A large number of Mirvac’s hotels are set to be re-branded under the Pullman banner following their integration into Accor’s network.
During the May 22 acquisition announcement, Accor revealed that the majority of Mirvac’s properties would remain under their existing brands – including Quay West Suites and Resorts, Sea Temple, Sebel Hotels Resorts and Residences, and Citigate Hotels – in the short term before being rebranded as Pullman properties.
While it is not yet known how many hotels would become Pullman properties, Accor Asia Pacific’s Chief Operating Officer, Michael Issenberg said the brand would be the focus for the company going forward.
“We will particularly focus on expanding our Pullman brand,” he said. “The brand has achieved great traction since launching in 2007 and is now also a major player in Asia Pacific, Europe and South America.
“In this region, Pullman is currently represented in Sydney, Cairns and Auckland, and with the addition of the former Sydney Marriott, and with the planned re-branding of a number of existing Mirvac hotels to Pullman, it will become a real force in the Pacific over the next two years.
“By 2015 it is expected that there will be over 150 Pullman hotels globally, with some 60 of them in key cities and resort areas across Asia Pacific,” he said.
A number of hotels are expected to join the Novotel network, including The Sebel Newcastle, which will be rebranded Novotel Newcastle Beach in June.