Accor Provides For Rugby World Cup Visitors

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11 September 2008

Accor Official Accommodation Provider For Rugby World Cup Visitors

Accor will be the largest official supplier of hotel rooms for Rugby World Cup 2011 visitors, after signing an agreement with Williment Travel Group and Rugby New Zealand 2011 in August.

Accor has added its accommodation to the Central Booking Agency established by Williment on behalf of RNZ 2011 to secure and manage the accommodation required to deliver the Tournament.

As the largest hotel group in New Zealand, Accor is well placed to offer thousands of visitors from around the world a wide range of accommodation options. With 29 hotels throughout the country, travellers have a wealth of choice to suit their itineraries and budgets, from five star luxury through to economy options.

Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Ltd was established in June 2006 and is the organisation responsible for the planning and delivery of Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand on behalf of its shareholders, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the New Zealand Government. Williment Travel Group is New Zealand’s leading sports and events travel operator and has been an Official Travel Agent for every Rugby World Cup since 1987. They also played an integral part in the highly successful Lions tour of New Zealand in 2005.

In New Zealand, Accor operates hotels under seven brands: Sofitel, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis, All Seasons and Formule 1. With supporters following their teams, as well as visitors keen to explore the country while in New Zealand, Accor offers hotels in eleven locations: Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Coromandel, Wellington, Picton, Nelson, Christchurch, Queenstown, Lake Wanaka and Dunedin.

Accor’s Area Director Sales & Marketing South Pacific, John Farrell, says after successful negotiations, all parties are in agreement and are excited to be part of this momentous event.

“Accor has been a proud supporter of rugby in New Zealand for many years and being involved in hosting a Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle for us. We are delighted to be part of the ‘welcoming party’ for the many visitors who will travel to and around New Zealand to experience this event.”

Accor’s Novotel brand has also been a sponsor of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rugby Council, New Zealand Rugby Players Association and Waikato Rugby Union.

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