ACCOR TO LAUNCH NEW HOTEL BRAND IN NEW ZEALAND

Mercure brand to debut with renowned Puka Park Resort

Accor will launch its Mercure brand in New Zealand from 1 October 2001, when it takes over management of the renowned Puka Park Resort in Pauanui on the Coromandel Coast. The official rebranding will take place from December, 2001 when the hotel is relaunched as Mercure Grand Puka Park Resort.

The Mercure brand is Accor's largest, with some 750 hotels globally in 44 countries. Mercure is also the largest international hotel brand in Australia, with over 40 hotels. The Mercure brand offers three levels of accommodation - Grand, Hotel and Inn. Mercure Grand is the flagship of the brand, with hotels such as Mercure Grand Hydro Majestic in the Blue Mountains, Mercure Grand Mt Lofty House in the Adelaide Hills and Mercure Grand Heritage Park in Bowral considered some of Australia's most outstanding boutique hotels.

Operator of the Mercure brand, Accor, is already well represented in New Zealand through its Novotel and Ibis brands, and the company will announce further additions to the Mercure network in the near future.

"There is no better hotel with which to launch the Mercure brand in New Zealand than Puka Park Resort," said Michael Issenberg, Accor's Managing Director for Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the South Pacific. "Puka Park represents all the qualities of the Mercure brand - distinctive regional personality and style, harmony with the local environment, reputation for fine cuisine, and highly attentive service.

"The hotel will benefit from having Accor take over management as we have access not only to the most sophisticated distribution system in the region, but also to highly qualified staff, our own training academy and specialist resort know-how.

"New Zealand has been a priority for expansion of the Mercure brand. Novotel and Ibis are already firmly established throughout the country, but we believe there is excellent potential for the Mercure brand, especially for rebranding existing hotels that need global branding and sales, marketing and reservations support. That is why the brand has expanded so fast in Australia, and there is simlar potential here."

Mr Issenberg said that the company would implement a number of operational improvements once it took over Puka Park, and the meetings, incentives and conference market would be targeted to build mid-week occupancies.

Puka Park has been in operation since 1987 and was purchased in 1998 by the Tainui, who have appointed Accor to enhance the operation and market the resort to a wider audience. Accor and Tainui are currently partners in the Novotel Hamilton, which Tainui, Hamilton Council and Accor developed and opened in 1999.

Set amongst 25 acres of New Zealand's most beautiful bushland near Pauanui on the Coromandel Coastline, Puka Park boasts 48 superbly appointed chalets that are completely in harmony with their idyllic location.

Accommodation ranges from simple but elegant tree hut chalets to the magnificent Royal Puka Suite which runs over two storeys and comprises three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The hotel also has a Wellness Spa centre, heated swimming pool, fine-dining restaurant and conference facilities for up to 100 delegates.

Local activities and attractions include Pauanaui Beach, golf, tennis, fishing, trekking and horse-riding. Team building activities can be arranged in the hotel grounds for conference groups.

Accor is already well established in New Zealand, with a total of 10 properties in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Rotorua, and Queenstown.