Accor has opened Mercure Tauranga. The 80-room property, formerly Hotel Armitage and Conference Centre, is located in central business district and is in the final stages of a multi-million-dollar refurbishment to meet Mercure brand standards. The opening brings Accor’s New Zealand portfolio to 49 hotels.
Adrian Williams, Accor COO for the Pacific region, called the opening a reflection of the confidence in the market.
“Tauranga has been a focus for us for some time. Tourism earnings rose by 5% last summer, underscoring the Bay of Plenty’s strong fundamentals and increasingly important role in New Zealand’s tourism and business landscape,” Williams said. “As the first internationally branded hotel in the city, Mercure Tauranga represents a significant milestone for the local industry. It allows us to bring global standards, distribution and loyalty to the market while supporting the continued evolution of Tauranga as a compelling destination for both domestic and international travelers.”
The hotel is positioned to serve corporate travelers, conferencing and events, sports groups and leisure visitors. The existing team has been retained, with additional roles expected as the property transitions under the Mercure brand. Further upgrades to conference facilities and recreational amenities are planned for later stages, which will enhance the overall guest experience and attract more corporate and leisure visitors.
The opening strengthens Accor’s partnership with Prime Hotels, bringing its New Zealand properties under Accor management to three, alongside Mercure Wellington Abel Tasman and Mantra Wellington Central City.
“We see clear potential in Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty region,” said Antoinette Muollo-Aharoni, executive director of Prime Hotels. “This transformation will position the hotel strongly for the future, supported by the strength of Accor’s brands, global distribution network and loyalty platform, while continuing to serve corporate, conferencing, sports and leisure markets, as well as the local community.”
Mercure Hotels & Resorts operates more than 1,000 hotels across 70 countries.