Accor is elevating its meetings and events offering across Australia and New Zealand, unveiling a series of major refurbishments and new hotel openings designed to inspire and connect. With a strong focus on innovation, flexibility, and sustainability, Accor’s latest developments ensure that business gatherings, conferences, and events are more dynamic than ever.
A game-changer for airport meetings
The newly opened Novotel and ibis Styles Melbourne Airport is redefining airport meetings and events with its state-of-the-art facilities, just steps from Melbourne Airport’s terminals. The dual-branded hotel offers:
- a grand ballroom accommodating up to 330 guests
- dedicated boardrooms and the ultra-modern Aerofoil Workspace for collaboration
- three food and beverage venues that can transform into event spaces
- secure undercover parking for convenience
- Higher State, Melbourne’s first airport health and wellbeing club, featuring a pool, sauna, fitness centre, and spa services
Iconic brands making their Pacific debut
This year, Ennismore, in which Accor holds a majority stake, will introduce its globally renowned 25hours and Mondrian brands to Australia.
- Mondrian Gold Coast at Burleigh Heads (opening mid-2025) will blend bold architecture with immersive experiences, offering 208 luxurious accommodations, two levels of destination dining, a pool club, a bio-wellness spa, and 20 versatile event spaces.
- 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia (opening mid-2025) will transform the historic Olympia Theatre into a creative hub featuring more than 100 guest rooms, a rooftop bar with panoramic views, and two distinctive meeting rooms accommodating up to 80 people.
Transformations of iconic properties
Several of Accor’s most recognisable hotels have undergone significant refurbishments to set new benchmarks in event spaces:
- Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has unveiled a $70 million transformation, including a multi-million-dollar technology upgrade by Encore and one of Sydney’s largest LED screens (16.5m x 3m) in the iconic Wentworth Ballroom.
- Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach has revamped its conference floor with 11 versatile event spaces, including two grand ballrooms with floor-to-ceiling views of Botany Bay.
- Mantra Lorne has introduced ocean-inspired Indigenous artwork, fresh interiors, and modern furnishings, creating an inviting, contemporary event setting.
- Peppers Marysville in the Yarra Valley has launched the Chalet Lounge, a stylish new venue for private cocktail receptions and intimate dinners.
The future of meetings and events
Accor’s research highlights that face-to-face meetings remain crucial for business success, with 85% of professionals anticipating financial benefits from in-person interactions. High-stakes moments like contract negotiations, client meetings, and sales discussions thrive in real-world settings, reinforcing the importance of premium event spaces.
Sustainability also remains a top priority, with Accor advancing eco-certified operations, reducing food waste, eliminating single-use plastics, and prioritising water conservation—an integral part of the company’s journey toward net-zero carbon emissions.
‘Let’s make it…’ meeting planner campaign
Accor is rewarding event organisers with its ‘Let’s Make It…’ campaign, offering double reward points for all meeting planner members who book eligible events before 31 May 2025. Points can be redeemed to cover up to 15% of an event bill, with additional perks including VIP experiences at Accor Stadium and Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
With over 400 hotels across the Pacific in destinations such as the Barossa Valley, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Auckland, and Queenstown, Accor continues to offer world-class event spaces across its 19 international brands, including Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Mövenpick, Peppers, and Novotel.
