SYDNEY— Accor, a global hotel group, announced it will launch the Sofitel Wentworth Sydney in mid-2003. The new Sofitel will be a conversion of an existing landmark property, the Wentworth Hotel. Accor was recently appointed as new managers of the 431-room hotel by the propertys owner, City Freeholds Pty Ltd. Accor will assume management in June 2002 and operate the hotel under the Wentworth name until a major refurbishment is completed in mid-2003. The hotel will then officially be relaunched as the Sofitel Wentworth Sydney, according to Accor. Michael Issenberg, managing director of Accor in Australia, said the timing of the relaunch will be ideal as Sydney has not had any new hotel stock for almost five years. Issenberg also noted at least 10 hotels have closed their doors and been converted into apartments. “The opening is likely to complement a substantial upturn in the domestic and global economies, with a corresponding increase in demand for top-level accommodation,” Issenberg added. The new hotel will join three other Sofitels in Australia including the Sofitel Melbourne, the Grand Hotel Melbourne and Sofitel Reef Casino in Cairns.
