Accor won’t have far to go for supplies in one of its upcoming Mercure newbuilds, revealing today a modification to an existing development in the Melbourne suburb of Doncaster will see one of its hotels built atop a new Bunnings Warehouse hardware store.
The $70 million hotel, a partnership with the Accord Property Group, was previously announced as part of a regional expansion strategy for the brand with new Mercure-branded properties to open in Canberra, Gold Coast, Bendigo and Auckland. The rollout will see the brand reach a milestone of 50 hotels in the Pacific region.
Mercure Doncaster, on track to open in late-2021, will be a 183-room property closely located to the area’s local Westfield shopping centre. Guest facilities will include a restaurant and bar with outdoor dining area, fitness centre, sundeck, rooftop swimming pool and function space.
Originally, the DA called for a mixed-use development with the hotel featuring among 100 residential apartments. However, the amended plan to incorporate a Bunnings Warehouse below the hotel was submitted and approved earlier this year by the local council.
Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer, Simon McGrath, said Doncaster had been identified by the Victorian government as a pocket of Melbourne with growing commercial and leisure potential and therefore in need of new hotel supply.
“We are delighted to commence construction on this flagship Mercure in the heart of Doncaster – our first-ever hotel built atop a Bunnings Warehouse.
“Accor [is] excited to bring the internationally recognised Mercure brand, with its warm local hospitality to Doncaster, together with Accord Property Group, in their first hotel development,” McGrath said.