AccorHotels is proud to announce it is a Major Partner and the Official & Exclusive Accommodation Partner for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Season for 2018.

Celebrating its 40th year, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is Australia's largest celebration of LGBTIQ culture and communities and AccorHotels will have a strong presence throughout the festival, with employees marching in the Parade and participating in Fair Day.

Mardi Gras Festival talent will be staying at AccorHotels around Sydney and all of the group's Sydney hotels will have colourful lobby activations and external signage displays throughout the festival, which runs from 16 February to 4 March 2018.

Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels Pacific said the announcement was a momentous occasion for the group.

“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and see it as a wonderful way to celebrate diversity and celebrate our employees.

“As Australia's largest hotel group, we are proud to take a leadership role in championing diversity. Just like our 10,000 employees across Australia, our guests come from all walks of life and it is our number one priority to ensure that our hotels make every person feel welcome, safe, valued and above all, equal.

“We are committed to building a deep culture of understanding and respect for all people regardless of culture, ethnicity, age or sexual orientation. Our association with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is just one of many partnerships AccorHotels champions and we look forward to using this occasion to celebrate diversity.”

Mardi Gras CEO, Terese Casu, said, “We're very pleased to have AccorHotels join us in celebrating 40 years of Mardi Gras fabulousness. They have a wonderful history of striving for diversity and inclusiveness and we look forward to working with them on creating an incredible 2018 Festival.”

Inclusion and diversity are key drivers for AccorHotels and the group has been a proud supporter of a number of key LGBTIQ events and initiatives, including, Pride Marches, Pride Games, supporting marriage equality and celebrating Inclusion & Diversity Week. AccorHotels was also recently announced as a finalist in the LGBTI Awards 2018.

For more information, head to www.accorhotels.com

About AccorHotels

AccorHotels is a world-leading travel & lifestyle group and digital innovator offering unique experiences in more than 4,200 hotels, resorts and residences, as well as in over 10,000 of the finest private homes around the globe. Benefiting from dual expertise as an investor and operator, AccorHotels operates in 95 countries. Its portfolio comprises internationally acclaimed luxury brands including Raffles, Sofitel Legend, SO Sofitel, Sofitel, Fairmont, onefinestay, MGallery by Sofitel, Pullman, and Swissôtel; as well as the popular midscale and boutique brands of 25hours, Novotel, Mercure, Mama Shelter and Adagio; the much-prized economy brands including JO&JOE, ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget and the regional brands Grand Mercure, The Sebel and hotelF1. AccorHotels provides innovative end-to-end services across the entire traveler experience, notably through the recent acquisition of John Paul, world leader in concierge services.

With an unmatched collection of brands and rich history spanning close to five decades, AccorHotels, along with its global team of more than 250,000 dedicated women and men, has a purposeful and heartfelt mission: to make every guest Feel Welcome. Guests enjoy access to one of the world's most rewarding hotel loyalty programs - Le Club AccorHotels. 

AccorHotels is active in its local communities and committed to sustainable development and solidarity through PLANET 21, a comprehensive program that brings together employees, guests and partners to drive sustainable growth.

Accor SA is publicly listed with shares trading on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and the OTC marketplace (Code: ACRFY) in the United States. 

For more information and reservations visit accorhotels.group or accorhotels.com. 

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Media contact

Angela Cowley

Director of Communications, AccorHotels

02 9280 9616 / angela.cowley@accor.com