Hotel and property development company, Thakral Holdings has appointed Accor to manage the former Sheraton Brisbane. The hotel will be re-branded to Accor’s luxury hotel brand, Sofitel, from 1 February 2005.
The appointment of Accor to manage the hotel as the Sofitel Brisbane follows Thakral Holdings’ purchase of the hotel from Mulpha Australia Ltd.

The launch of the Sofitel Brisbane will precede the launch of another Sofitel in Queensland, Sofitel Gold Coast - also owned by Thakral Holdings - in May 2005.

The launch of the Sofitel Brisbane is part of the largest ever expansion of the Sofitel brand in the Asia Pacific region. Sofitel Brisbane will be the fifth Sofitel in Australia, and a further four are scheduled to be added to the network by the end of 2006.Ê

In Asia Pacific over 10 more Sofitels are under development in Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, China and Thailand, which will extend the network of Sofitels in the Asia Pacific region to 45 hotels by the end of 2006.

The Sofitel is built over Brisbane’s Central Station in the heart of the central business district, the hotel comprises 410 rooms and suites, designed in contemporary fashion, with unparalleled views and the latest in-room technology and communications.

The hotel recently underwent a major AUD$10 million refurbishment.

The Sofitel offers one of Brisbane’s largest hotel venues for meetings, dining and entertainment, with 14 function rooms able to cater for up to 1200 delegates and a choice of five restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The hotel also offers a fitness and health centre, rooftop swimming pool and business centre.

Accor Asia Pacific Chairman, David Baffsky, said the hotel was an outstanding addition to the global Sofitel collection: “The hotel offers the best position for business, leisure and conference guests and is a landmark in Brisbane’s hospitality sector,” he said.

“Brisbane has developed significantly over the past decade and is now one of Australia’s most desirable State capitals for corporate and leisure travel and we believe there is even greater potential to develop business further.

“In particular, we see opportunities to build on the close relationship between Brisbane and the Gold Coast by having Sofitel hotels in both destinations. The momentum that the Sofitel brand has gathered in recent years, and especially the high profile of Sofitel in key feeder markets such as Sydney and Melbourne, makes us confident that we can deliver the best results for the property.”
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