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Accor's novel "floating hotel" combines luxury with QE2 history

Accor's novel "floating hotel" combines luxury with QE2 history

Accor's MGallery Hotel Collection is adding a novel property to its portfolio - the world-renowned cruise ship, Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2).

After Accor taking over operations from May 2022, the cruise ship will undergo further upgrades and renovations prior to joining the MGallery Hotel Collection. Once the renovation is completed, the new MGallery Queen Elizabeth 2 will feature 447 hotel rooms, nine food & beverage outlets, ten meeting rooms, 5,620sqm area for outdoor events, six retail outlets, a swimming pool and a gym.

Permanently berthed  in Dubai’s Port Rashid, the QE2’s location will in close proximity to Sheikh Zayed Road, providing easy connection to every main attraction the city has to offer. Dubai International Airport, Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and La Mer Beach are all located less than 20 minutes away, while the Palm Jumeirah and Mall of the Emirates are located 35 and 29 minutes, respectively.

Presumably it will participate in Accor Live Limitless (the loyalty program), but I am yet to have that confirmed.

I'm also curious to know if it will retain the capability to sail again. If so, it would have the potential to be moved to another port/location, should the need ever arise.

A novel property that will contribute to the Dubai Urban Master plan 2049, providing a sustainable urban development while increasing the city attractiveness as a global destination. Guests will be able to enjoy a unique experience while conveniently located to all of Dubai's attractions.

I'm pencilling it in for my future Middle East tour.  

New Orient Express hotel in Venice | links to the Orient Express La Dolce Vita rail journey

New Orient Express hotel in Venice | links to the Orient Express La Dolce Vita rail journey

Late in 2021 (see article dated 10 December 2021), the Accor-owned Orient Express announced the launch of a new train service, offering travellers an unforgettable journey through one of the world’s most beloved countries: Italy.

The Orient Express La Dolce Vita will welcome its first travellers in 2023. Six trains will embark through several iconic itineraries across 14 regions and beyond, including three international destinations from Rome to Paris, Istanbul and Split.

A stopover in Rome will feature the very first Orient Express Hotel, Minerva, scheduled to open in 2024.

Orient Express has recently announced its second hotel in Italy, at the spectacular Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice, set to open in early 2024. A sample of its beautiful architectural detail is pictured.

Located just ten minutes from Venice's Santa Lucia train station, next to the Cannaregio shopping district, the Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is a treasured palace built in 1400 by architect Filippo Calendario, known for Venice’s famed Doge's Palace. The Orient Express Venice Hotel will be home to 45 rooms and suites, all overlooking the gardens and canals of Venice. The hotel bar will be located in the former piano nobile ballroom on the main floor of the building. Select terraces hidden on the hotel’s rooftops will offer the most beautiful views of the wonders of the Serenissima. 

As soon as the hotel opens, passengers on the Orient Express La Dolce Vita train will be able to disembark directly at the Venice Santa Lucia Station and reach the Orient Express Venice Hotel by foot or by boat. 


Accor today announced that it is accelerating its expansion in the all-inclusive market with the launch of its multi-branded All-Inclusive Collection – an expanded offering that builds upon the success and experience in the luxury-all-inclusive market gained over 20+ years under the Rixos brand (predominantly in Turkey, the Middle East and Central Asia).

Accor created the All-Inclusive Collection using not only Rixos properties, but by including its luxury and premium brands with Fairmont, Sofitel, Pullman, Swissôtel and Mövenpick in the Collection. International expansion of the all-inclusive business will be centered in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Turkey, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean.

The All-Inclusive Collection  will include new openings of Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha and the Rixos Qetaifan Doha, which includes one of the world’s largest waterparks. Both these resorts will open in time for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Also opening later in 2022 will be the first non-Rixos branded property in the collection - the Swissôtel Sharm el Sheikh.

Carefully curated entertainment programmes, for both day and evening activities, will play a central role, with spectacular shows and multiple sporting activities per resort accompanied by world-class spa and wellness facilities. This will be complemented by a breadth of restaurant, bar, beach club and nightlife concepts that will be inspired and led by Carte Blanched, with each venue providing diverse and culturally relevant cuisines and culinary experiences. 

Since the pandemic, there has been a substantial increase in demand for travel to All-inclusive resorts.Accor and Hyatt are 2 of the groups well-positioned to respond to this trend.

To learn more abour Accor's brands and loyalty program... …

Accor expands Australian footprint with new deal

Accor expands Australian footprint with new deal

Salter Brothers has announced that its portfolio of hotels, acquired as part of the recent Travelodge acquisition, will be joining the global hotel giant Accor at the start of the 2023 financial year.

The management agreement, which includes an industry-leading link to ESG outcomes, will see its hotels (2000+ rooms) rebranded to (budget brand) ibis Styles, Mercure and Novotel (mid-range) hotels when they join the 340+ Accor network of hotels, apartments and resorts across Australia.

The deal is Accor’s largest integration since its $1.2 billion acquisition of Mantra Group in 2018, which brought the Art Series, Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree brands under Accor.

Nine of the properties will become Mercure hotels, growing Mercure from 44 properties in Australia to 53, making Mercure the largest and fastest growing global mid-scale brand in Australia with more than 50 hotels.

Both Accor and Slater believe that the Australian travel market is starting to show very promising signs of recovery and the deal signals their confidence in the return of corporate travel.

We anticipate that all the properties will participate in the loyalty program, Accor Live Limitless.

Is Accor changing ALL status requirements ?

Is Accor changing ALL status requirements ?

It looks to me that Accor will be changing its qualification criteria for elite tier status levels.

The latest ALL T&C's dated 26 Jan 2022 show qualification based on either nights stayed or rewards points accumulated (Silver 2,000; Gold 7,000; Platinum 14,000 and Diamond 26,000).

However, the ALL members' site is currently showing the criteria as based on (the same number of) nights stayed or eligible spending (Silver €800, Gold €2,800; Platinum €5,600 and Diamond €10,400).

Since all tiers of members earn status points at the rate of points per €10 spent (eg 25 at say a Sofitel property), this will result in the same amount of spending required.

Why the subtle change? 

While all members receive the same earning rate at a particular property (no tier bonuses), not all properties have the same earning rate for status points (eg IBIS 12.5 or 10 for both Peppers and Mantra).

So for all members, a stay at a Peppers property would, for the same spend, earn 40% compared to the identical spend at a Sofitel property.

By changing the thresholds to spending rather than based on one of only 4 earning rates, this is much fairer to members, as the same spend provides the same tier status, regardless of which properties received the spending.  

If this change does come into effect, it is an improvement for Accor's ALL members. Bravo!

Sixt Car Rental - new points partner for Accor

Sixt Car Rental - new points partner for Accor

Car rental company Sixt and French hospitality giant Accor have just signed a points partnership deal, that will provide attractive benefits for members of  Accor's loyalty program ALL – worldwide and free of charge.

As part of the long-term collaboration, members of  ALL will be able to collect points when they book a rental car with Sixt, with packages of 200 to 500 points

Currently Accor also has a partnership with Europcar, where ALL members earn up to 1,000 points for every rental, plus get a 10-20% discount. 

So we will wait to see if both partnerships survive, or Sixt replaces Europcar.

World Ski Awards - Best of 2021

World Ski Awards - Best of 2021

World Ski Awards - the sister organisation of World Travel Awards  - has unveiled the winners of its ninth annual programme. The results follow a year-long search for the world’s leading ski travel, tourism and hospitality brands.

A brief selection of the prize-winners (and their loyalty programs where relevant) is shown below.

  • World’s Best Ski Resort – Verbier, Switzerland
  • World’s Best Ski Hotel -  W Verbier, Switzerland (Marriott Bonvoy)
  • World’s Best Green Ski Hotel -  rocksresort, Switzerland
  • World’s Best Ski Chalet -  Chalet Zermatt Peak, Switzerland
  • World’s Best New Ski Chalet -  Chalet Face a Face, France
  • World’s Best Ski Tour Operator -  TUI
  • Australia’s Best Ski Resort - Thredbo
  • Australia’s Best Ski Hotel -  Novotel Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa Hotel (Accor ALL)
  • Canada’s Best Ski Resort – The Lake Louise Ski Resort
  • Canada’s Best Ski Hotel – Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside   (GHA Discovery)
  • France’s Best Ski Resort -  Val Thorens
  • Japan’s Best Ski Hotel – The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Hokkaido (Marriott Bonvoy)
  • New Zealand’s Best Ski Resort – Mount Hutt
  • New Zealand’s Best Ski Hotel -  The Rees Hotel , Queenstown
  • Norway’s Best Ski Hotel – Radisson Blu Resort, Trysil (Radisson Rewards)
  • Poland’s Best Ski Hotel  – Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences, Zakopane (Radisson Rewards)
  • Russia’s Best Ski Hotel –  Rixos Krasnaya Polyana Sochi (non-participating in Accor ALL)
  • Slovakia’s Best Ski Hotel – Grand Hotel Kempinski, High Tatras   (GHA Discovery)
  • Slovenia’s Best Ski Hotel – Ramada Resort by Wyndham  (Wyndham Rewards)
  • Spain’s Best Boutique Ski Hotel – Melia Royal Tanau Boutique Hotel  (MeliaRewards)

Congratulations to all of the World Ski Awards 2021 prize-winners  !


Similar to the crossover program between Accor Live Limitless and Qantas Frequent Flyers, there is now a similar offer specifically for business owners.

Benefits include discounted flights and Qantas Club membership with Qantas and for Accor, discounted rooms, food & beverages at participating Accor properties in the APAC region.

Better yet, for a limited time there is a promotional offer where you can receive 5,000 bonus Qantas points when you join Accor Business Plus and Qantas Business Rewards. You can receive a further 5,000 Qantas points by making purchases.

You must purchase an Accor Business Plus between 17 January and 13 March 2022 to receive the bonus Qantas points. Other T&C's also apply.

This is a very attractive promotion if relevant to you. Like to learn more?  …

La Dolce Vita returns with Orient Express

La Dolce Vita returns with Orient Express

Soon, the Accor-owned Orient Express will launch a new train service, offering travellers an unforgettable journey through one of the world’s most beloved countries: Italy.

The Orient Express La Dolce Vita will welcome its first travellers in 2023. Six trains will embark through several iconic itineraries across 14 regions and beyond, including three international destinations from Rome to Paris, Istanbul and Split.

A stopover in Rome will feature the very first Orient Express Hotel, Minerva, scheduled to open in 2024.

The concept for the new Orient Express La Dolce Vita trains pay tribute to “La Dolce Vita,” a historical period of glamour, joie de vivre and artistic fervour in Italy during the 1960s.

The train’s sumptuous decor will adorn 12 deluxe cabins, 18 suites, and one honour suite and restaurant, all boldly celebrating the craftsmanship, design and creativity of the 1960-70s. (Pictured: Accor - Orient Express Deluxe Suite)

Before departure from the Roma Termini station, the Orient Express executive lounge will welcome passengers offering them a selection of refreshments in an elegant space, complete with dedicated services and staff to assist them.

On board, travellers will experience 5-star service, savoring award-winning Italian wines and exclusive haute cuisine curated In collaboration with local and international chefs and sommeliers.

The romance of Italy combining with the romance of luxury rail travel sounds like a winning combination to me.  To La Dolce Vita! 

Banyan Tree planning for growth

Banyan Tree planning for growth

Banyan Tree has unveiled plans to to double its footprint of 54 properties across 23 countries by 2025 with the introduction of 5 new brands launching in the next 18 months.

In 2022, the group will introduce the new Garrya, Homm and Folio brands, as well as two brand extensions of Banyan Tree named Veya and Escape.  Each of the 5 new brands to be released are responses to macro and regional trends such as a greater desire for well-being and sustainability-minded travel offerings.

In readiness, it has already opened 7 hotels so far this year, including:

  • last month's opening of the first Garrya Huzhou Lucun in China
  • the debut of Homm Bliss Southbeach Patong: and
  • a soft-opening of Banyan Tree Veya Phuket.
Four Garrya and two Homm have been signed in Asia with more in the pipeline.

This follows Banyan Tree Group this year signing 20 hotel management agreements worldwide including Benin, Mexico, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Thailand, China and Vietnam.

Banyan Tree has along-established reputation for luxurious spa and resort properties with an ethos of sustaianabilty and supporting local communities.  These new destinations will add exciting options.

Banyan Tree's ethos of sustainability started in 1994 when they transformed an ecological wasteland spoiled by waste from a nearby tin mine into a rejuvenated area with the first environmentally sensitive Banyan Tree resort.

Stays at Banyan Tree spas and resorts (which I highly recommend) can be either booked directly or via Accor (to receive ALL member benefits).
Accor is one of our advertisers and at no additional cost to you we may receive a small compensation if you use our link (with thanks).

Raffles Hotel London | Accor confirms opening late 2022

Raffles Hotel London | Accor confirms opening late 2022

Accor has confirmed Raffles London at the OWO will open toward the end of 2022.

A combined residential and grand new hotel in the landmark Grade II listed former Old War Office on Whitehall, are being completed in partnership with Hinduja Group, which has been passionately committed to the meticulous restoration of the heritage features of the building since 2016.

Hundreds of artisan craftspeople have been commissioned to restore the historic interior elements including delicate hand-laid mosaic floors, oak panelling, chandeliers and a magnificent marble staircase.

The building will open to the public for the first time, having undergone a transformation to create 120 rooms and suites, 85 unique branded residences and 11 destination restaurants and bars.

Located at one of London’s most historically significant addresses, originally completed in 1906 and designed by British architect William Young, it has stood witness to many world-shaping events. The likes of Sir Winston Churchill, Lord Haldane and the James Bond (is that his Aston Martin DB5 out front?) author Ian Fleming have all walked the corridors of what was the Ministry of Defence headquarters.

The OWO will be the first Raffles hotel in the UK and is located opposite Horse Guards, with views towards St James’s Park, and is moments from Downing Street and UNESCO world heritage sites: The Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey. 

It will have an extensive wellness space featuring world leading spa and fitness partners and will be home to a rooftop restaurant and bar with panoramic views across Whitehall, the Mall and on to Buckingham Palace.

I love when historic buildings are restored & repurposed so that their beauty can be appreciated by future generations.

Accor welcomes Hotel Belmont Vancouver into its MGallery Hotel Collection

Accor welcomes Hotel Belmont Vancouver into its MGallery Hotel Collection

Accor announced that effective today, December 1st, 2021, Hotel Belmont Vancouver (pictured) will join the Group  as the first Canadian property in the MGallery Hotel Collection of individual, boutique-styled hotels.

As part of the MGallery Hotel Collection, Hotel Belmont Vancouver will maintain its unique personality and bespoke design while also featuring some of the MGallery brand's markers such as memorable character, luxury, innovation, local art, and music.

The 5-story, 82-room boutique property features retro-modern design, upscale finishings, and curated art throughout. Hotel Belmont Vancouver has a glitzy past, famous in the city for hosting many performers over the years, including young crooner Michael Bublé at the start of his singing career. 

Another attractive option for Accor ALL members, it joins the other Accor properties in Vancouver of Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Fairmont Waterfront and Fairmont Vancouver Airport.

Find out more details on the Hotel Belmont Vancouver.    (advertiser) 

Accor Stadium - new name for Sydney's Stadium Australia

Accor Stadium - new name for Sydney's Stadium Australia

The iconic venue is recognisable from being the centrepiece of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

It has a capacity to hold concerts for 100,000 spectators (eg Adele, AC/DC, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift) and over 80,000 people for seated sporting events (such as National Rugby League Grand Finals, international Football games, and Bledisloe Cup and British & Irish Lions rugby Test matches).

Members of Accor’s global lifestyle loyalty programme, ALL – Accor Live Limitless, will receive exclusive access to ‘Limitless Experiences’, and more across Accor Stadium events.

A further boost to Accor's loyalty program members in Australia, who already benefit from specific APAC regional program benefits.

Accor announces new luxury hotels & resorts collection

Accor announces new luxury hotels & resorts collection

Accor yesterday introduced Emblems Collection, a global portfolio of boutique hotels and luxurious resorts.

The first property under the new brand is slated to open in December 2021 - Guiyang Art Centre Hotel, Emblems Collection - in the Guizhou province of China.

The luxury brand is expected to grow to 60 properties around the world by 2030.

“The hotels we will feature in Emblems Collection are those sought out by travellers who appreciate high-end, boutique-style experiences” said Sébastien Bazin, CEO of Accor.

Accor will encourage hotels under the new brand to retain their unique identities, which is important to hoteliers who have invested in creating a certain style for their hotel and/or market.


Looking forward to a staycation / city break?  Accor has a choice of over 100 hotels to choose from in Australia and New Zealand in their Black Friday sale.

Accor APAC Members receive early access to the sale.  Register & book before 25 November to get 30% off the price of their stay and earn 2X Reward points.  Accor Plus members receive an additional 10% off.

The member-only sale ends midnight on 25 November 2021, and public access starts 26 November and ends 1 December 2021.

Stays must be completed between 01 December 2021 &  28 February 2022.
.
Further T&C's apply. …

Accor & Qantas commence their dual earning alliance

Accor & Qantas commence their dual earning alliance

Today marked the launch of the "crossover" alliance between the Accor Live Limitless and Qantas Frequent Flyer programs. 

Under their agreement, you must be a member of both programs, then you can earn points under both programs:

1) from Qantas flights around the world if they hold at least either ALL Gold or QFF Platinum tier status;
2) from stays at Accor properties, regardless of tier status, but only for stays in the APAC region.

Learn more about the benefits for both ALL members & QFF members.

Accor extends ALL points expiry...another 12 months

Accor extends ALL points expiry...another 12 months

Accor has announced a further extension for the expiry of its ALL members points.

Back in March this year, ALL points expiry was extended to 15 December 2021.  Ths has now been further extended to 15 December 2022

This complements the tier status extension that was announced in October (also to December 2022).

A welcome development for Victorians, who have just come out of lockdown and in time for summer breaks.  Also for members in the Americas, where Accor's footprint is smaller and there is less opportunity to earn points to extend the life of accrued points.

Fairmont announces offers showcasing links between its sustainable properties & nature

Fairmont announces offers showcasing links between its sustainable properties & nature

Since its creation in 1907, Fairmont has developed magnificent destinations from the big city sights of New York to the spectacular landscape of Canada’s Rocky Mountains.

Fairmont was the first luxury hotel brand to adopt a global sustainability program (now incorporated into Accor’s dedicated program, Planet 21).  Today, Fairmont has a portfolio of over 80 properties where sustainable development has been a key element.  

With this campaign, the brand reveals breathtaking images that connect natural landscapes to Fairmont destinations in the desert, the mountains and tallgrass prairies.

Over the coming months, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts around the world will unveil “The Grandest of Escapes Exclusively by Fairmont” - a series of offers that through a series of "unique and exciting experiences that will breathe new life into adventurers’ souls and the need to reconnect with nature”.

Accor ALL members and Fairmont fans should keep their eyes peeled for future announcements…


Australian members of ALL can earn 3x the normal number of points when renting a car through Hertz.

Book before 30 November and rent before 15 December 2021 to enjoy:

* 15% off the base rental rate

* triple rewards points.

When you make your booking you must quote:

CDP code:   840267
PC code:     203530 and provide your ALL membership number.

Read more to go to the Hertz site to make your booking. …

Accor changes rules so ALL points are now easier to retain

Accor changes rules so ALL points are now easier to retain

Good news for Accor Live Limitless (ALL) members.

Now any points earned will extend the life of all your points.

Previously points expired after 365 days unless you had made an eligible stay or participated in the Accor Dining Offer.  

Points may be earned from stays, shopping with retailers on the Accor portal, using one of their partners' products (eg car rental with Europcar or Hertz) or dining in one of the many participating restaurants, bars and cafes.


Qantas announced plans on May 31st to giveaway a suite of mega prizes to Australians who get the COVID-19 vaccine, including unlimited travel for a year.  This is in addition to the announcement a week earlier that it would offer frequent flyer points along with travel vouchers and status credits to Australians who get inoculated.  It is understood the options being considered by Qantas include giving people who get both their two COVID-19 jabs up to 1000 frequent flyer points, flight vouchers towards domestic and international flights, and status credits, which allow people to move into high Frequent Flyer tiers.

Any reward would be available to people who had already received their jabs and the program would run until the end of 2021 when the vaccine rollout is due to be completed; the details are yet to be completed. Now, the national carrier has launched a further incentive scheme which it hopes will boost vaccination rates and help get state and international borders reopened permanently.

“We’re looking at having 10 mega-prizes, at least one for each state or territory, where a family of four can have unlimited free travel for a year on the Qantas and Jetstar networks,” CEO Alan Joyce revealed on Channel 7’s Sunrise program.

The trips would be in economy class and each of the ten winners.  “In addition to that, the Accor Group have come on board and they’re offering one million Accor Points, which gives free accommodation at 400 hotels and resorts across the country.”

Joyce said the program would launch in July, "will include anybody that has already been vaccinated (and) will apply to anybody that's vaccinated through to the end of 2021."

“We have a vested interest in this, we want to do everything we can to ensure the borders domestically open and stay open and that we get international up and running,” he explained.

The airline has consistently said that it will require all passengers to be vaccinated when it restarts international flights beyond New Zealand.

More Australians vaccinated means more potential travellers making bookings.

While the moves may not be entirely altruistic, I think both companies are to be commended for “putting their money where their mouth is” and not just relying on Government to provide support for the ailing sector.

It’s understood that vaccinated Australians will be able to claim their rewards and enter to win a mega-prize through the Qantas app from July.

Don’t be surprised to see if this coincides with the launch of the Qantas/Accor dual points earning (crossover) capability that was announced in November 2020 as part of a closer strategic relationship between the companies.  This too was scheduled to launch mid-2021 and will be the first partnership of its kind between an airline and hospitality group in the Asia Pacific region. …


Qantas and Accor have announced a deeper partnership that will see mutual members of their loyalty programs being able to double-dip for rewards points in the APAC region. 

The newly minted crossover feature is scheduled to launch mid-2021.

While similar to other crossover programs (eg Marriott and both Emirates and United; Shangri-La and Singapore Airlines; Hyatt and American Airlines), it will be the first partnership of its kind between an airline and hospitality group in the Asia Pacific region.

Will it be an attractive feature?  Read on for our thoughts.

…


There was an article in Le Figaro (later syndicated through Reuters) saying that Accor was looking closely at IHG with a view to takeover or merger.  How would that look ?  Where are the overlaps?  What might it mean for the respective programs of Accor Live Limitless and IHG Rewards Club? …