Accor swoops to sign up three key hotel properties

Accor, the largest hotel operator in Australia and New Zealand, has swooped to sign up three established hotels, including the landmark Boulevard Hotel in Sydney (above).

The multinational group has signed a deal with Bayview International Hotels & Resorts that will see Accor take over the management of three iconic properties from this month.

The hotels are The Sydney Boulevard Hotel in East Sydney, Bayview Geographe Resort in Busselton, Western Australia, and Wairakei Resort Taupo on the north island of New Zealand.

Brandings for the trio has not yet been revealed. 

“This is an exciting milestone for Accor as we continue to expand our presence in the Pacific," said Adrian Williams, Chief Operating Officer for Accor in the Pacific. 

"These three properties are well-loved by locals and visitors alike, and we are thrilled to bring them into the Accor family. Our vision is to elevate their guest experiences through our powerful brands, ALL loyalty program, and world-class service offering.”

The three properties will undergo needed extensive refurbishments before being relaunched under Accor brands. 

“With a comprehensive refurbishment plan in place, we can't wait to unveil their refreshed identities and welcome even more travellers to these remarkable locations,” Williams added.

The Sydney Boulevard Hotel is one if Sydney's most iconic and storied hotels, featuring 277 rooms, including seven suites, 11 meeting spaces, a ballroom, a restaurant and café, and an exclusive top-floor meeting room with views of the CBD and Sydney Harbour.

Bayview Geographe Resort has 137 rooms, villas, an indoor heated swimming pool, a tennis court, a golf putting green, and direct beach access.

Wairakei Resort Taupo is located in Wairakei, just north of Lake Taupo. It has 187 rooms, a nine-hole golf course, a geothermal swimming pool, a day spa, multiple dining venues, and extensive conference facilities.

Accor operates more than 400 hotels in the Pacific region under brands including Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Handwritten Collection, Novotel, TRIBE, Mercure, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget, as well as Ennismore.

How you can double your holiday time in Western Australia

Fancy a few extras days of holiday in Western Australia?

For a limited time, award-winning accommodation provider Seashells Hospitality Group is doubling guest stays at its Seashells Broome and Mandurah properties.

Using Seashells’ Double Your Stay offer when booking and paying for two nights Seashells will give you four, book for three nights and get six, or book five and get 10.

The offer is not, however, available at Seashells properties in Yallingup and Scarborough due to limited availability.

Seashells’ self-contained apartments are described as being "perfect for couples, families and groups of friends".

Seashells Broome is 300 metres from world-renowned Cable Beach with a choice of apartments and three-bedroom bungalows in tropical gardens. 

Seashells Mandurah is perched on the shores of Comet Bay and has one and two-bedroom apartments available using the offer.

Bookings must be made before May 25 and must be pre-paid at the time of reservation. They are non-refundable with non-transferable dates - which is not ideal, in my opinion. Take out travel insurance and make sure flights are available for your dates. 

To book call 1800 800 850 or see www.seashells.com.au.

Third generation takes the reins in Mudgee

Jacob and Gina Stein this week officially took ownership of their family's Mudgee winery, continuing 49 years of family ownership and a wine industry history dating back to 1838. 

Robert Stein Wines - known for its high-quality rieslings - has seen the official transfer of ownership to the third-generation custodians. 

The couple, who have been instrumental in the business for over 17 years, now take full ownership of the winery, vineyard, and farm. 

Established in 1976 by Robert ‘Bob’ Stein, the winery is one of New South Wales’ few multi-generational, family-owned wine businesses. 

Upon Bob’s retirement, his son Andrew assumed the role of general manager. Andrew is now stepping down. 

Located nine kilometres north of Mudgee, the property spans 202 hectares and includes a 20-hectare vineyard featuring nine grape varieties, a working farm with livestock and crops, a modern winery, cellar door, restaurant, and the original family homestead.

“Generational succession in a family winery is never without complexity," says Jacob Stein. 

"It's a challenging time for the industry, and our family, including my siblings, wanted to ensure the legacy of our father and grandparents is protected. We are proud of our achievements and are looking forward to a bright future. 

“We’ve found a path forward that strengthens our connection to the Stein heritage and honours the traditions established by previous generations over our 187 years in Australia.”

Jacob, who took on the winemaking and winery operations in 2009 at just 25 years old, has experience in leading wine regions in Australia and Europe, including Rheinhessen and Rheingau in Germany. 

Robert Stein Wines can trace their winemaking history back to 1838, when the Macarthur family brought Johann Stein to Australia with the country’s first cuttings of rhine riesling. 

These vines flourished at Camden Park and, 138 years later, in 1976, Robert ‘Bob’ Stein purchased 75 acres in Mudgee and renewed the Stein passion for viticulture. 

Go west. Qantas unveils new international routes

Qantas is spreading its wings westward with an announcement that two new routes will join its international network, with flights from Perth to Auckland and Johannesburg set to take off from December 2025

The routes will unlock more connections for Australians across the airline’s international and domestic network which now spans more than 100 destinations around the world.

The new services add to the growth of Qantas’ western hub, adding over 155,000 seats in and out of Perth each year and is timely given the large number of South Africans and New Zealanders living in Western Australia. 

The flights have been made possible by funding allocated from the Federal Government to Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry to deliver additional border services at airports, Qantas said in a statement. 

The funding will enable Perth Airport to invest in additional staffing, equipment and facilities that increase border and biosecurity capacity and in turn allow the airport to host more international flights.

“We’re so excited to be launching two new international routes, unlocking more options and greater choice for all Australians to connect to the world through our growing network," said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace:

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“By connecting Perth directly with Auckland and Johannesburg, we’re supporting the local economy by opening valuable inbound tourism opportunities for Western Australia, as well as generating new jobs for the state. These routes also enable further growth throughout Australia with connections across our domestic network.

“Our new Perth to Auckland route offers a convenient one-stop connection for West Australians to New York via Auckland on our popular QF3 service while the new direct flight to Johannesburg provides a vital connection for customers in Perth to visit popular cities like Cape Town through our partnership with Airlink."

Perth Airport Chief Commercial and Aviation Officer Kate Holsgrove said: “The launch of two new Qantas international services to Perth is great news for Western Australia.

“Perth is a dynamic, expanding hub with incredible growth opportunities and we remain focused on working with our airline partners to grow aviation connectivity to create more opportunities for Western Australia’s tourism industry and provide more options for Western Australians to travel."

Both routes will operate three times per week on a Qantas A330 aircraft with 27 business class seats in 1-2-1 configuration, each featuring direct aisle access and converting into a lie-flat bed, and 224 economy seats.

Tough times for global wine and spirits giant

Times are tough in the drinks business right around the world. 

Global wine and spirits giant Moët Hennessy will cut more than 10% of its global workforce as part of a major restructuring effort in a bid to counter falling demand and rising costs, the Financial Times reported in London..

The newspaper says the wine and spirits arm of luxury giant LVMH currently employs around 9,400 people. Chief executive Jean-Jacques Guiony told staff earlier this month that an estimated 1,200 roles would be eliminated, bringing the division back to its 2019 staffing levels.

Revenues at Paris-based Moët Hennessy have fallen to 2019 levels, Guiony said, yet operating costs have jumped 35% over the same period. 

“This was an organisation that was built for a much larger size of business,” he said in an internal video. 

“People realise … that this [rebuilding sales] is not going to happen anytime soon.”

The cuts will largely be achieved through natural attrition and by reassigning staff to other areas of the business. Moët Hennessy has already implemented a hiring freeze. 

Deputy CEO Alexandre Arnault, who joined the division alongside Guiony in February, told staff that this crisis was unusual in scope. 

“Usually at LVMH when wines and spirits are not going well, fashion is doing well or some [other part of the business] is performing differently. Right now things are not going extremely well,” he said.

In a statement, a Moët Hennessy spokesperson confirmed the planned cuts. 

“While Moët Hennessy’s business has returned to its 2019 level, Moët Hennessy announced its intention to adjust its organisation and gradually return to its 2019 staffing levels, primarily by managing its natural turnover and not filling vacant positions,” it said.

Guiony reassured staff that the current downturn was part of a cycle. 

“Things are bad but they will become better,” he said, though he warned that US tariffs added another layer of uncertainty to the company’s outlook.

The company's wine and spirit brands include Krug, Hennessy, Dom Perignon, Moët et Chandon, Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ardbeg, Belvedere Vodka, Chateau d'Yquem, Ruinart and Cloudy Bay and Glenmorangie.

Hyde hotel brand makes its Australian debut

Does Australia need another new hotel brand? Probably not.

But we've got one anyway, with Ennismore launching its Hyde brand in Melbourne.

Hyde Melbourne Place is in the heart of Melbourne's CBD with the property formerly known as simply Melbourne Place marking the Hyde brand's debut in Australia.

Hyde has presence in locations including Miami, Dubai, London, and Johannesburg and is billed as offering "lifestyle hospitality".

Hyde Melbourne Place joins Ennismore's trio of flagship soon-to-be openings in Australia this year - Hyde Perth, Mondrian Gold Coast, and 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia.

“Melbourne's creative spirit, bold energy, and cultural richness make it the perfect setting for Hyde's Australian debut," said Jodi Brown, newly appointed general manager of Hyde Melbourne Place.

"With its bohemian aesthetic, playful spirit, and deep roots in music and design, Hyde Melbourne Place will offer guests more than just a stay: it will be a full sensory experience.

"We can't wait to reveal what's coming, including vibrant spaces, live music moments, and design that truly speaks to the heart of Melbourne's artistic community.”

Hyde Melbourne Place is at 130 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000. See https://all.accor.com/hotel/C4B0/index.en.shtml

Ennismore is a global collective founded in 2011 by entrepreneur Sharan Pasricha. 

Ennismore and Accor entered a joint venture in 2021.