Accor adds to Fiji network

Accor is to continue its rapid expansion in Fiji with its appointment to manage one of Fiji’s best known hotels, the Fiji Mocambo Hotel, which will be relaunched as the Novotel Nadi Fiji in late 2006 after the completion of an extensive renovation programme.

The new management contract is effective December 5, 2005.

Accor’s appointment as manager follows the recent purchase of the hotel by Pandey Investments Fiji Limited, a subsidiary of CP Group which own several Accor managed hotels in both Australia and New Zealand.

The hotel will remain fully operational during the renovation and prior to its Novotel rebrand next year, with renovation to be staged in a way to cause minimal disruption to guests

The announcement of Accor’s latest management contract in Fiji and impending Novotel brand launch will complement the imminent opening of the group’s new five-star property – the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau island – scheduled for 10 December 2006.

The additional two hotels will effectively double Accor’s presence in Fiji in the space of a year. Accor established its presence in Fiji earlier this year with the launch of the Sofitel managed Vomo Island Resort, and the Mercure brand followed with the renovation and re-branding of the Dominion International to Mercure Hotel Nadi in April 2005.

Fiji Mocambo in Nadi is set on 42 acres of tropical gardens, a short drive from the international airport and only 15 minutes from Nadi’s business district. The future Novotel will be an ideal base for travellers wanting to explore Fiji and its islands. The hotel offers 128 guest rooms featuring either a balcony or patio overlooking landscaped gardens. The hotel also offers a variety of recreational facilities such as a nine-hole golf course and tennis, along with extensive conferencing facilities.

Novotel Nadi will join a renowned Novotel portfolio located in key holiday destinations including Bali, Phuket, Queensland’s Palm Cove and Sunshine Coast, and Coffs harbour in NSW.

“Accor is very happy to continue our relationship with the progressive CP Group,” says Michael Issenberg, Managing Director Accor Asia Pacific. “By welcoming the Novotel Nadi to our already impressive network of Pacific hotels, Accor now offers Fiji’s most extensive choice of brands in one destination.”

Mr Issenberg says that Accor has already demonstrated that in just one year of being involved in Fiji’s hotel industry that the group has been able to attract significant new business from Australia, New Zealand, North America and Europe.

“With Nadi the principal gateway to Fiji and its islands, the upgrading and re-branding of the Mocambo will play an important part in catering for the phenomenal increase in tourism to Fiji. The Novotel will be particularly suitable for conferences and incentive groups, offering quality facilities at value-for-money rates,” he said.

“Many tourists to Fiji will remember the Mocambo with affection, and we are really looking forward to returning the hotel to its previous iconic status.”