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Accor sets the agenda on both sides of the Tasman

Significantly for New Zealand, Accor recently launched its second five-star Sofitel in "the land of the long white cloud" –  the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour. The Sofitel is the group's 33rd hotel in New Zealand and its 10th in Auckland.  

The newly rebranded Sofitel (previously the Westin) offers a luxury hotel experience in Auckland's most prestigious commercial, residential and entertainment precinct. Inspired by New Zealand's landscape and culture and boasting panoramic views of the Waitemata Harbour, the Sofitel makes the most of its waterfront location, with its own pontoon for sailing boats and water taxis and gorgeous views from most rooms and public areas.

The Sofitel has excellent business and leisure facilities including three meeting rooms and a professional business centre, a luxurious day spa, sauna and steam room, gym and indoor pool.

The Sofitel complements Accor's other top-end Auckland hotel, the Pullman Auckland, which launched in 2011 after the rebranding of the former Hyatt Regency. The five-star Pullman recently opened the city's most exclusive room, the Presidential Penthouse, which is priced at $10,000 a night.

This one-of-a-kind Presidential Penthouse has already proven popular with international celebrities, musicians, the sporting elite and even royalty and boasts 268 square metres of interior space over two levels, with commanding views and expansive balconies.

The first floor includes a separate room which can house personal guards, butlers and staff, or can be used as a third bedroom for additional guests. The penthouse includes a designer kitchen, Swarovski chandeliers, local artworks, an Italian marble fireplace, beds with Egyptian cotton sheets and opulent bathrooms with mirrored television screens above two-person bathtubs. Guests enjoy exclusive services including a chauffeur, in-house chef, butler and spa therapist plus private tours of Auckland Gallery after-hours and personal styling sessions.

In addition to the Penthouse, the Pullman offers 267 rooms, suites and apartments, with three Pullman Executive levels, all of which were refurbished and upgraded in 2009. The hotel boasts some of Auckland's most extensive conference facilities with the capacity to host events for up to 1000 delegates. Facilities range from a grand ballroom to the Top of the Town boardroom, one of Auckland's most exclusive venues, which is located on the top floor of the hotel, providing superb views of the harbour, city and parks.

The Spa and Health Club is one of the largest of its kind in New Zealand, with six treatment rooms, gymnasium, a 25 metre heated lap pool with a retractable roof, steam room, jacuzzi, juice bar and spa boutique.

Last year Accor also opened the Novotel Auckland Airport, which was officially launched by Maori King Tuheitia and Prime Minister John Key. The $65 million hotel project was one of the most significant to open in New Zealand over the last decade and is arguably the best Novotel in the Pacific, with a strong link to indigenous culture and a distinct 'green theme'. The design of the hotel was undertaken by leading New Zealand architect Warren & Mahoney with some of the country's most promising designers and artists creating the fit-out.

The Novotel is the first in the Pacific to feature the new NEXT room concept, which places the emphasis on space and connectivity. The bathroom has a transparent glass partition to increase the feeling of space in the room, though an internal screen can provide instant privacy. A special communications panel can also turn the room into a mobile office with world class connectivity.

Novotel Wellington is also being refurbished with the NEXT Novotel rooms and when the full room refurbishment is complete in August, the hotel will be effectively Wellington's most contemporary 4-star accommodation.

Also new to the network in New Zealand is the All Seasons Ellerslie, a 23-room hotel opposite the main gates of Ellerslie Racecourse and three minutes from the train station.

The Mirvac acquisition has substantially increased Accor's trans-Tasman offerings, with three hotels in New Zealand and around 40 in Australia. Importantly, the network has grown considerably in the upmarket sector with brands including Sea Temple, Quay West, Quay Grand and Sebel. The acquisition includes a range of highly strategic hotels that will complement Accor's existing network.

Across the Tasman, another strategic addition has been Accor's partnership with Ayers Rock Resort, one of Australia's most important tourism assets. Accor has been appointed to help take the iconic resort and tourist attraction to new markets and maximise opportunities for indigenous employment and development.

Ayers Rock is the largest integrated resort complex in Australia and Accor will align the four hotels there – Sails in the Desert, Desert Gardens Hotel, Outback Pioneer & Lodge and Emu Walk Apartments – to corresponding brands in its existing portfolio. The resort is currently undergoing a major renovation program and a range of new activities, tours and attractions will be added to rejuvenate the resort's offering to guests.

In other developments, Accor will launch the Grand Mercure Wellington Central City in mid-2012 and continues to look for opportunities for expansion via its franchising network.