Hotel chain Accor has added to its Grand Mercure portfolio with the launch of the Grand Mercure Wellington Apartments Central City in New Zealand.

The 54-apartment hotel offers guest suites ranging from metro studios to one-bedroom interconnecting suites that include a kitchenette.

Antoinette Muollo, one of the owners of Prime Hotels Group, said she signed with Accor to gain access to the group’s extensive sales and distribution support as well as corporate know-how.

“We see our team benefiting from being part of a privately owned New Zealand company but with access to a wealth of knowledge and the expertise of an established global network,” she said. 

“Accor has an excellent portfolio and is a well respected company around the world and we feel that becoming part of Accor will enable wider contact with international guests who will appreciate the opportunity to stay in an apartment-style hotel right in the centre of Wellington.”

Garth Simmons, Accor’s vice president New Zealand and Pacific, said “We are very excited to expand the Grand Mercure brand in New Zealand after its strong growth in Australia and Asia. This opening, in New Zealand’s capital, is a strategic move by Accor to further position the Grand Mercure Apartments brand as the leading upscale serviced apartment provider in the region.

“With demand for accommodation challenged by a number of economic and other factors at this point in time, it is important for properties of this quality to have the sales, marketing and distribution support of a group like Accor.

“We are the largest hotel group in the Asia Pacific region, and with strong support for our brands in the corporate and leisure market we believe that we can assist this property to maximise its potential.”

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