Accor Hotels Dominate Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide for 2015
- Written by Angela O'Connor
Accor scooped six coveted entries into the 2015 Gourmet Traveller Australian Hotel Guide – three from Melbourne, one in Brisbane, one in Adelaide and one in Bunker Bay – cementing its position as Australia's leading hotel group.
The Sebel Docklands was listed as one of nine of the best hotels in Australia for long-stay lodgings and it was the apartment-style accommodation coupled with balconies, water views and “arty interiors” which gave it the nod of approval from the judges. Ibis Adelaide also received recognition as one of the best budget hotels in Australia, with the reviewers noting “if we had an award for best hotel rebrand, it would likely go to the new Adelaide Ibis, a fresh and funky reimagining of the no-frills brand that makes staying in a three-star hotel suddenly seem appealing”. The $70 million, 311-room hotel opened in 2014 and boasts an amiable CBD address.
Newcomer to the boutique hotel scene, The New Inchcolm Hotel & Suites was lauded for its Deco refurbishment, attention to detail and Thomson's Reserve lobby restaurant. Its location, between Brisbane's CBD and the nightlife and shopping mecca of Fortitude Valley made it “a win for those with an eye on work-life balance” and a worthy inclusion into the guide.
Staying in Melbourne, the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins and Hotel Lindrum - MGallery were commended for their personalised service, unbeatable location at the 'Paris end of Melbourne', and for their respective restaurants, No 35 and Felt Restaurant.
Sofitel Melbourne won over the judges with its “excellent business and function facilities, making it a favourite venue for conferences, banquets and opening night soirees”, while Hotel Lindrum appealed as “a comfortable and refined home-away-from-home with top-notch amenities and strong service”.
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort in Western Australia has long been a favourite hideaway for those seeking peace and privacy, with the judges noting they loved “the sensation of being in the wild heart of the Cape but with all mod cons at hand the Indian Ocean at the end of the boardwalk”. With its proximity to Margaret River, the inclusion of complimentary sparkling wine at the breakfast buffet did not go unnoticed, nor did the resort's Vie Spa.
Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Officer for Accor Pacific said “it is very pleasing to be included in Gourmet Traveller's Hotel Guide, considering the magazine's standing in the food, wine and travel industry. The inclusion of six of our hotels into the guide is a testament to the strength and breadth of our hotels, as well as the high level of service provided by each of our employees and I congratulate each of them one achieving this accolade.”
The Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide recognises the cornerstone experiences of any great hotel stay, from the best service to the best breakfast and all entrants are reviewed anonymously.
