Accor is set to launch economy hotel brand ibis in Mackay following the signing of an agreement with North Queensland Airports/ Mackay Airport Pty Ltd, who will develop a new 152-room hotel at Mackay Airport.
The multi-million dollar mixed use hotel development will be located in the Mackay Airport precinct, just outside the main terminal building.
The hotel will also be the first purpose-built international standard economy hotel in Mackay and will join a network of over 60 ibis hotels in Australia and more than 1,000 worldwide.
Chief Operating Officer Accor Pacific, Simon McGrath, said this will be a key development for Mackay as domestic air travel between major and regional Australian cities continues to grow.
“The economy hotel sector is the fastest growing market in global travel, and is set to grow even faster with the rapid expansion of low-cost carriers servicing regional cities,” he said.
“The addition of quality and affordable accommodation at Mackay Airport will stimulate travel from a range of markets and cater to the needs of the various sectors that require airport accommodation on a regular basis,” McGrath said.
“Mackay Airport is one of Queensland’s busiest regional airports and currently handles around one million passengers annually, which is only set to grow, making new infrastructure such as the ibis hotel crucial for Mackay and its tourism industry and to service the major resource centres of the Bowen and Galilee Basins.”
“Ibis hotels are quite different from 3-star hotels of just a decade ago, with the brand offering very contemporary design, premium bedding and outstanding use of space, so the new ibis Mackay Airport hotel will provide guests with a premium economy experience,” McGrath concluded.
NQA (North Queensland Airports Group) Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Brown, said his company was pleased to announce the partnership with Accor and their ibis brand for the new Mackay Airport Hotel now under construction.
“We are proud to be investing in this exciting development for Mackay Airport and to partner with one of the world’s best known hotel brands to operate the finished product,” Brown said.
“The hotel project and the development of the associated airport infrastructure around it represent an investment by NQA of around AUD$30million.
“It is the first development in our 20 year vision for Mackay Airport which represents an almost AUD$1billion investment in the future of Mackay,” he said.
Mackay Airport General Manager, Rob Porter said the airport looks forward to working with Accor as the hotel construction continues through to completion by mid-2015 at which time we will partner to provide a convenient accommodation option for passengers travelling through Mackay Airport.
“With direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Townsville and Rockhampton and charter operations to the Bowen and Galilee Basins, Mackay Airport provides excellent connections for people travelling for workdays or holidays,” Porter said.
“The hotel will solidify Mackay Airport’s position as the key integrated transport hub for the Bowen and Galilee Basins. The city of Mackay provides excellent facilities and technical expertise to service these mining centres and is a strong source of suitably qualified FIFO workforce.”
Ibis Mackay Airport will feature 152 guest rooms and will be a major boost for the region which supports a thriving mining, agricultural and industrial business centre and is a gateway to the Whitsunday Islands.
Construction of the hotel is underway with a scheduled opening in mid-2015. Once operational, the new ibis Mackay Airport hotel will employ around 40 people.
Ibis is part of Australia’s largest hotel group, Accor, which is also the largest operator of hotels in airport precincts in Australia, including Ibis Budget Brisbane Airport, Novotel Brisbane Airport, as well as hotels at Melbourne, Sydney and Perth airports.