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Accor’s dynamic New Zealand expansion

The group has just been recognised at the NZ Hotel Industry Conference (NAHIC Awards) with Novotel Auckland Airport winning the Hotel Industry Environmental Initiative Award and Tim Dearsley, General Manager of the ibis Christchurch named Hotel Industry Senior Executive of the Year.

On the eve of its first anniversary, Novotel Auckland Airport was awarded for its innovative design which features New Zealand's largest internal living green wall, timbers from certified sustainable forests, low-energy fittings and a unique façade that optimises acoustic and thermal insulation. The hotel has a water-saving rate 4.1 points higher than best practice, has set a benchmark to recycle 75% of its waste and by the end of the year will use 50% eco-labeled chemicals amongst a host of other environmental initiatives.

The Novotel was developed by Tainui Group Holdings and Auckland International Airport Limited, and was launched in May 2012 by Maori Kiingi Tuheitia and New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key.

On the same night, Tim Dearsley was recognised for his key role in the recovery of Christchurch after the February 2011 earthquake. Tim has spent more than 30 years in the tourism industry in New Zealand and was instrumental in assisting guests and staff in the aftermath of the earthquake. As part of Accor's Crisis Team, he helped to relocate staff to other Accor hotels, kept the entire network up to date on what was happening and coordinated the recovery of guest belongings. He was seconded to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority and worked tirelessly to get the city back to business, while helping to raise more than $170,000 with his Accor colleagues for the people of the city. 

Most recently Tim has been working with the Central City Development Unit to help reopen Christchurch's central business district. Accor's Hotel ibis Christchurch is expected to be the first hotel in the city centre to re-open following the earthquake, with the launch scheduled for the end of September. Paul Richardson, at the time Accor's Vice President New Zealand and Fiji, said the two awards were a great recognition of two areas in which Accor has a very strong focus.

"We are delighted to see Novotel Auckland Airport and Tim Dearsley recognised with these two awards," he said. "Accor has a strong focus on sustainability and a core feature of this is for the hotels to give back to the communities in which they operate."

Just shortly after the awards were announced, Paul Richardson moved to Shanghai as he has been promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer, Greater China for Accor, after being at the helm of Accor in New Zealand for more than 5 years. Garth Simmons who was previously Area Manager for Accor's New South Wales hotels has relocated to Auckland and will take on the position of Vice President New Zealand and Fiji.
"I am thrilled to take on New Zealand as I believe this is a very exciting time for the industry in this country," he said. "Our hotels in New Zealand are performing strongly, our Kiwi staff are very passionate and so long as we don't mention the rugby, I am sure I will enjoy my time here."

"With the recent addition of Sofitel Viaduct Auckland Harbour, the renovations to the five-star Pullman Auckland and now the inclusion of Quay West Suites Auckland and Sebel Suites Auckland, Accor offers more hotels than any other operator and even more high-end product in New Zealand and we hope to shortly re-open our first hotel in Christchurch so it's a great time to be here," said Garth.

Quay West Suites Auckland is a boutique five-star apartment hotel with a range of elegantly appointed one and two bedroom suites with views of Waitemata Harbour, while the Sebel Suites provides 122 spacious suites with all the amenities of a fine hotel, conveniently located at Viaduct Harbour.

Simmons is hoping new leadership will bring renewed vigour to the operation of Accor's New Zealand hotels and is looking forward to a big second half to the year.