The ‘Year of the Dog’ will be celebrated at AccorHotels across Australia from this February.

The festivities will include special menus and hotel decorations so that guests can make the most of the celebrations.

Speaking exclusively to HM, AccorHotels chief operating officer Simon McGrath said the hotel group were excited to ring in the Chinese New Year with their guests.

“We are dedicated to continually expanding our services for Chinese travellers in all of our hotels across Australia and our Chinese Optimum Service Standard program continues to grow and evolve,” he said.

“Inbound arrivals from China increased 12% last year to over 1.3 million travellers and it is critical that we, as an industry, do all that we can to ensure these guests feel valued and welcome.

“Our strategic alliance with Huazhu Hotels Group – one of China’s largest and fastest-growing hotel companies – has really started to reap rewards.

“The alliance has seen us rapidly expand our network of hotels within China and has allowed us to share our brands in Australia with the 90 million members of their H Rewards loyalty program.

“We have no doubt this will encourage the 140 million Chinese who travel overseas to stay with AccorHotels’ brands around the world, and we look forward to welcoming them over the Chinese New Year period.”

The Optimum Service Standards program includes training for AccorHotels staff in cultural differences, Mandarin speaking staff, translated welcome kits, Chinese dishes included on menus and mini-bar products, Chinese location maps, newspapers and television channels.

UnionPay is also accepted at a number of AccorHotels to enable guests to conveniently settle their room account with their domestic debit banking card.

In New South Wales, Chinese New Year will be celebrated at Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, Mercure Sydney, Novotel Sydney Parramatta, Sebel Sydney Chatswood and Sydney Hyde Park.

Ibis Styles Hobart will represent in Tasmania with a program of events kicking off on 16 February.

In Queensland, Sofitel Brisbane Central and Novotel Surfer’s Paradise will be celebrating with special cultural performances and Chinese New Year themed cocktails.