Liquor suppliers await Mirvac sale outcomes

Accor Asia Pacific's purchase of Mirvac Hotels and Resorts will clearly have implications for the hotel chains' liquor suppliers, which include Lion and Coca-Cola Amatil.

A total of 43 Mirvac hotels across Australia and New Zealand will join the Paris-based Accor chain under the transaction confirmed yesterday, which is worth in excess of $320 million.

Accor spokesman Peter Hook told TheShout that it's too early to say what effect the deal will have on the companies' liquor procurement arrangements.

"Lion is a major supplier for Accor, but we also have an arrangement with Coca-Cola Amatil," he said.

"Naturally, as the integration progresses, Accor and the Mirvac hotels will look at procurement arrangements to ensure that the Mirvac hotels receive the best possible deal on their purchases."

Accor Asia Pacific chief operating officer, Michael Issenberg, said the Mirvac acquisition would "change the face of Australian and New Zealand hotel industry" and would take Accor to 240 hotels, representing 32,000 rooms, in Australia.

"We will be able to add significantly to the competitiveness of the Mirvac hotels once they are fully integrated into the Accor network.

"The benefits will come from access to our global distribution platform, strong branding, our pre-eminent position in the rapidly expanding Asian markets, and the support of the region's most experienced and professional workforce," he said.

Issenberg said the majority of the Mirvac hotels would be re-branded under Accor's Pullman banner in due course.

Source: The Shout, 23 May 2012