The Mirvac hotels are currently being integrated into the Accor network. In the first phase of integration Sydney Marriott Hotel (pictured left) is rebranded as Pullman Sydney Hyde Park from May 22, and Sebel Newcastle Beach to Novotel Newcastle Beach in June.

Sydney Marriott Hotel will undergo a A$7 million refurbishment programme funded by the owners, the Mirvac Wholesale Hotel Fund, to align the hotel to Pullman’s five star standards. All the remaining rooms will be renovated, while the hotel’s lobby and public areas will be upgraded.

In the short term the majority of Mirvac hotels will remain under their existing brands – Quay West Suites & Resorts, Sea Temple, Sebel Hotels, Resorts & Residences, and Citigate Hotels. A number of these hotels will be rebranded under Accor’s upscale Pullman brand..

With the takeover of Mirvac hotels, Accor’s network in Australia and New Zealand will grow to 250 hotels representing 32,000 rooms.

Michael Issenberg, Chief Operating Officer for Accor Asia Pacific, said the settlement of this deal would fundamentally reshape the hotel industry in Australia and New Zealand.

“We have seen many of the original overseas players in the hotel sector retreat from this region in recent years, while Accor has aggressively grown its network through management and franchise contracts and strategic acquisition deals such as the purchase of Mirvac hotels.”

Issenberg added the group would focus on expanding the Pullman brand, which has achieved great traction since its launch in 2007 and is now also a major player in Asia Pacific, Europe and South America.

“In this region, Pullman is currently represented in Sydney, Cairns and Auckland, and with the addition of the former Marriott in Sydney, and with the planned rebranding of a number of existing Mirvac hotels to Pullman, it will become a real force in the Pacific over the next two years.”

By 2015 Accor expects to have over150 Pullman hotels globally, with 60 in key cities and resort areas across Asia Pacific.