A new hotel conglomerate

THE Accor hotel giant’s billion-dollar takeover of the smaller Mantra Group should be of great benefit to the region’s tourism industry.

Both are by far the biggest hotel operators in the Far North.

However, it will reduce competition and time will tell whether it will lead to a spike in hotel room prices.

The two hotel management companies are well regarded and dominate the sector in the tropical north.

It should result in bringing together the best of both companies to improve the service to guests and a better working environment for staff.

The bigger Accor venture in Australia and the Far North will offer a wide choice of accommodation options for travellers, including top end and resort offerings.

In the Far North the brands include Pullman, Sea Temple, Sebel and Novotel.

Mantra has more resorts, such as Peppers, to add to the portfolio.

It is expected that rising household costs in Australia may led to more Australians holidaying at home, shifting away from long-haul international travel, and eyeing off attractive destinations such as Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas.

Accor has a huge reach across the globe with 4200 properties.

Its might should help to draw more holidaymakers to the region.

It is an exciting time for tourism as we count down to the arrival of the first direct Chinese flights in December, the birth of a new hotel brand Crystalbrook Collection and its burgeoning interests and a new sports tourism event, Targa Great Barrier Reef next year. Nick Dalton Deputy editor