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Accor and Qantas join forces to assist FNQ
Accor is joining with Channel 7’s Sunrise and Qantas Airways to help the people of northern Queensland rebuild after Cyclone Larry. As part of Operation Sunrise: Rays of Hope, Accor will provide six nights of free accommodation for a host of volunteer tradespeople being flown up to Cairns to assist those whose homes have been destroyed.
As accommodation partner of Sunrise, Accor did not hesitate to offer assistance when approached about the project, and Simon McGrath, General Manager of the Sofitel Reef Casino contacted other hoteliers in the region to get on board.
“A lot of our staff and regular guests have been affected by Cyclone Larry so we felt a great deal of responsibility to contribute to getting things back together,” said Simon McGrath, who is now coordinating the effort across all Cairns hotels. “Cairns is a major hub in support of Innisfail and the surrounding regional areas so we will be doing our best to support those affected.”
Cyclone Larry, a category five cyclone of similar strength to Katrina in the US, left a swathe of destruction in its path, with thousands of people affected, the farming industry – particularly banana plantations – devastated and towns reduced to rubble. Damage is estimated in the hundreds of millions and the need for plumbers, carpenters, electricians and builders is paramount to at least returning thousands of homes to a liveable state.
Accor, who also provided beds to some victims immediately following the cyclone, will ensure the tradespeople who are part of Operation Sunrise have a good night’s sleep as they volunteer their time to rebuild affected areas.
Accor’s Brisbane hotels are also pitching in to provide free accommodation for the tradespeople en route their journey to Cairns.
The local efforts follow Accor’s key role in fundraising and rebuilding for victims of the tsunami in Asia last year and many other natural disasters that have affected communities in which its hotels are based.
Accor has 8 hotels involved in the project – Sofitel Reef Casino Cairns, Mercure Hotel Harbourside, All Seasons Sunrshine Tower, All Seasons Gateway Resort, Sofitel Brisbane, Novotel Brisbane, Mercure Brisbane and Hotel Ibis Brisbane, all of whom are providing free accommodation.
Graham Muldoon
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