Accor expands Pacific footprint with three-hotel acquisition
Australia's largest hospitality operator, Accor, has secured management agreements for three hotels previously run by Malaysian group Bayview International Hotels & Resorts. The properties—two in Australia and one in New Zealand—will be refurbished and rebranded as the French company continues to strengthen its presence in the Pacific and compete with other major players like Marriott and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).
The newly acquired hotels include The Sydney Boulevard Hotel in the city’s central business district, the Bayview Geographe Resort in Busselton, Western Australia, and Wairakei Resort Taupo on New Zealand’s North Island. All three are owned by Oriental Holdings Berhad, a Malaysian conglomerate also involved in automotive distribution in Singapore and Brunei.
Accor’s global chief development officer Camil Yazbeck described the transaction as strategically significant. “Taupo is an area of New Zealand where we have been wanting to build a presence, while the hotels in Sydney and Geographe Bay will greatly complement the properties we already have there,” he said. “We see significant upside potential for all three hotels.”
The company plans to invest in upgrading the hotels’ design and amenities, with a full relaunch of the properties expected within the next one to two years. “We are always on the lookout for opportunities to expand our network in the Pacific region, for several reasons,” Yazbeck added. “We are experienced, comfortable, and optimistic about investing in this market.”
The Sydney Boulevard Hotel, originally built in 1972, offers 277 rooms, seven suites, 11 meeting spaces, a ballroom, a restaurant and cafe, and a top-floor venue with views of Sydney Harbour. The Busselton resort, located in the Margaret River region, includes 137 rooms, villas, an indoor pool, tennis court, putting green, and direct beach access. In New Zealand, Wairakei Resort Taupo features 187 rooms, a geothermal swimming pool, nine-hole golf course, spa facilities, and conference amenities.
Dean Dransfield, founder of hotel consultancy Dransfield Hotels and Resorts, said the shift to chain management reflects changing dynamics in the sector.
“Sydney is a bottomless pit for hotel operators. They will take as many hotels as you can throw at them to run,” he commented. “What’s probably happened is that the owners have recognised that today, you need to be affiliated with a hotel chain if you have a large hotel because of the impact of loyalty programs.”
He added that technological capabilities also play a growing role in operator decisions. “[There’s a] need to secure a direct relationship with customers by being connected to a big brand that can take advantage of AI-related tools so that the hotel comes up when customers are searching for a place to stay.”
The new additions join a wider expansion pipeline for Accor in the Pacific. The group is preparing to open a 140-room Novotel in Cabramatta, Sydney, this November. It is also advancing a joint venture with Ennismore Group to introduce three lifestyle brands in Australia: the Mondrian Gold Coast hotel and residences, Hyde Perth, and a 25hours Hotel in Sydney’s Paddington. In 2023, Accor launched a new Novotel and Ibis at Melbourne Airport.
Accor entered the Australian market in 1990 through a partnership with Citistate Corporation to operate the Novotel in Darling Harbour. It has since grown significantly, acquiring major operators such as Mirvac Hotels & Resorts in 2012 and Mantra Group in 2018. The company, listed on the Paris stock exchange, now manages approximately 45 brands globally including Sofitel, Pullman, Mercure and Ibis.
Accor recently extended its accommodation partnership with the National Rugby League through to the end of 2027.
Jonathan Jackson, 7th May 2025
