Mercure Marlborough Sounds - front entrance

Five of CP Group’s Mercure hotels in New Zealand are set to leave the Accor network on December 1, 2013.

The properties – Mercure Auckland Windsor, Mercure Rotorua, Mercure Wellington Willis Street, Mercure Picton Marlborough Sounds and Mercure Dunedin – are set to join the StayWell Hospitality Group in a boost to the increasingly popular operator.

Accor’s Vice President for New Zealand, Fiji and Japan, Garth Simmons, said the chain had worked with CP Group to “find the right solution for these small properties moving forward as the Mercure brand globally repositions with a new visual identity and focuses on a modernised guest experience”.

Mercure Rotorua pool and bbq area - low res

“Streamlining the network of Mercure hotels in New Zealand is essential to achieving overall consistency in line with the new global vision for the brand,” he said.

“The CP Group will remain the owners of the five properties which will be operated by StayWell Hospitality Group.

“We are pleased with the mutual outcome with CP Group which allows the staff in each of these hotels to remain in employment with the new operator and crucially, the continuity of service.

“Accor will do everything possible to ensure there is minimal disruption to employees and guests during the hotels transition to their new operator.

“Our relationship with CP Group remains steadfast and we look forward to working on new hotel projects including Sofitel Wellington and Sofitel So Auckland in addition to the continued management of seven other CP owned properties under Sofitel, Pullman, Mercure and Ibis Styles brands across New Zealand,” he said.

Reacting to the change in guest expectations in the midscale hotel market, plans are underway for Accor’s Mercure Auckland, Mercure Wellington and Mercure Queenstown properties to undergo an extensive refurbishment program.

As a midscale hotel leader with more than 700 hotels worldwide, the Mercure brand will re-launch in New Zealand following the completing of these hotel refurbishments in 2014.