Accor to replace IHG at Kakadu properties
Accor will manage the Crocodile Hotel and Cooinda Lodge in Australia’s Kakadu National Park from April 1, replacing incumbent managers, Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG).
Built in the shape of a crocodile, the iconic Crocodile Hotel is located at Jabiru, some 2~½ hours drive south east of Darwin.
Cooinda Lodge is located next to the Yellow Water Billabong and is part of an extensive hotel/tourism operation.
The hotels were the first major tourism properties developed in Australia by an Indigenous organisation – the Gagudju people.
The Crocodile Hotel opened in 1988, shortly after the Crocodile Dundee films put the international tourism spotlight on the Kakadu region and natural attractions.
Gagudju Crocodile Hotel will be aligned with Accor’s Mercure brand, and Gagudju Cooinda Lodge will be part of Ibis Styles.
Chairman of Kakadu Tourism, Rex Wild said the hotel owners were attracted to Accor by its championing of Indigenous employment, "which is a fundamental objective of the operation of the two properties".
Current managers of the two properties – Daniel Lukritz (Crocodile Hotel) and Vanessa Thomson (Cooinda Lodge) – will stay with the hotels following the change of management.
Ian Jarrett
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