Accor to launch Andrew Forrest’s Wonil Hotel under new brand: The Handwritten Collection
Accor has been appointed to manage a new hotel in Perth, with profits to be reinvested into the Forrest Research Foundation, was set up by mining tycoon Andrew Forrest nearly a decade ago.
French hotel giant Accor has been appointed to manage a new hotel in Perth, with the profits to be reinvested into the Forrest Research Foundation, which was set up by mining tycoon Andrew Forrest nearly a decade ago.
As international tourism starts returning to Australia, Dr Forrest has been showing interest in hospitality assets of late. A year ago, Dr Forrest’s private investment arm Tattarang purchased North Queensland’s Lizard Island for $42m. More recently, the businessman was rumoured to be negotiating to acquire the yet to be built 220-room Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Sydney Harbour for a price of $572m. However, when contacted by The Australian on Thursday a spokesman for the businessman declined to comment.
Meanwhile, Accor will on Friday launch the Wonil Hotel Perth and its new branding, The Handwritten Collection, with the opening of a Sydney property to follow suit next month.
All together 12 hotels have committed to the new brand, with revenues from the Handwritten Collection, Wonil Hotel, Perth to be reinvested back into the Forrest Research Foundation, one of Australia’s largest philanthropies, supporting scholars and fellows.
Accor Pacific’s chief executive Sarah Derry said the creation of the hotel portfolio is aimed at boutique hotel owners and the new branding so far has a development footprint of 110 global hotels encompassing more than 11,500 rooms.
The 66-room Wonil Hotel in Perth, within the Forrest Hall Precinct on the banks of the Swan River, will open in February, followed by the Hotel Morris in Sydney’s Pitt Street.
“Wonil Hotel, Perth is the first Handwritten Collection Hotel to open in Australia and is tailored to guests who wish to be located near the campus and surrounding areas and value high standards in style, amenities and design,” Ms Derry said in a statement.
Forrest Research Foundation director James Arvanitakis said the Wonil Hotel, which will be owned by the University of Western Australia, would be ideal accommodation for visiting academics and others staying in Perth, with profits from their stay to flow directly into the Forrest Research Foundation to fund more scholarships.
In Sydney, the Hotel Morris on Pitt Street will reopen after a three-year renovation, rebranded as a Handwritten Collection hotel. The 82-room art deco style hotel was built in 1929 within an Italian renaissance building and retained the mantle of Australia’s tallest building for 34 years.
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