Best Western Plus Lake Kawana Waters rebrands

Accor is cashing in on the Sunshine Coast’s newfound popularity with the announcement of a newly rebranded property.

In partnership with hotel owners, Stay Centro GC, Accor has rebranded the Best Western Plus Lake Kawana Waters to Mercure Sunshine Coast Kawana Waters, under a franchise agreement.

Built in 2015, the property is located in Lake Kawana, a masterplan development by Stockland, worth an estimated $5 billion to the local economy. Set on the waterfront, the hotel offers 81 spacious suites spanning four floors, with a full restaurant and bar, two separate yet adjoining function rooms (that can be combined), and ample car parking. The hotel is just one hour from Brisbane Airport, and 20 minutes from Sunshine Coast Airport.

Simon McGrath, Accor Pacific’s Chief Operating Officer, said the Mercure is a strategic and welcome addition to the network with the Sunshine Coast region on the precipice of a significant tourism boom, with major infrastructure, works underway set to elevate the destination.

“The Sunshine Coast has experienced significant tourism increases into the region as of late, with a total of 3.8 million visitors spending $2.4 billion (FY 2018). Domestic visitation grew by 1.8 per cent whilst international visitation to the region outpaced Queensland’s overall average, recording a growth rate of 8.5 per cent.

“Such positive visitation growth figures are buoyed by significant tourism investment and major infrastructure projects which will elevate the destination, including construction of a multi-million-dollar redevelopment of Maroochydore CBD, expansion of the Sunshine Coast International Airport to bring it up to a global standard, in addition to another runway which will increase air capacity.

“The delivery of a major international submarine broadband cable mid-2020 is set to position the Sunshine Coast as a leading ‘smart city’ stimulating business even more, in addition to significant investment into the University of the Sunshine Coast as well as a major upgrade to the region’s largest shopping precinct, Sunshine Coast Plaza.

“The destination’s already strong business events market is set for even greater growth opportunities (up 5.5% FY 2018), with the recent completion of the $10 million Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, as part of the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort,” concluded McGrath.

Michael Carr, Stay Centro GC’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to partner with Accor on this new venture at such an exciting time for the destination, and look forward to welcoming both corporate and leisure guests to the Sunshine Coast with the Mercure brands internationally renowned authentic, locally inspired service.”

Guests of Mercure Sunshine Coast Kawana Waters will be able to access privileges via Accor’s award-winning loyalty programme – ALL, Accor Live Limitless – a daily lifestyle companion that integrates rewards, services and experiences bringing value to everyday life inventing a completely new aspirational way to live limitless.

The program is free to join and can be used across more than 5,000 hotels, resorts and residences across 110 countries.

The hotel is adjacent to both Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital and Sunshine Coast Private University Hospital, which currently offer 621 beds with plans to increase to 909 beds by 2021.

Mercure Sunshine Coast Kawana Waters joins a network of over 50 Mercure hotels across Australia and New Zealand and over 810 worldwide.