Sofitel Gold Coast in A$20m rebranding

By Heather Jacobs GOLD COAST Listed property company Thakral Holdings is to re-brand the Grand Mercure Broadbeach as Sofitel Gold Coast after an $A20 million (US$14.2m) upgrade of the hotel and retail complex. All rooms in the 292-room five-star hotel will be modernised, the eight function rooms will be refurbished and a café and lounge bar introduced in the lobby. Gold Coast has matured as a destination, evolving into one of Australia's premier leisure and conference destinations, said Michael Issenberg, managing director of Accor Asia-Pacific. "The opening of the Gold Coast Convention Centre, combined with major increases in domestic and international airlines servicing the Gold Coast and Brisbane airports, makes this an ideal time to introduce Sofitel to the region," he said. The hotel is in walking distance of the new convention centre, which is expected to make it popular with the CEI market. It offers direct access to the beach with views of the Pacific Ocean and hinterland and also access by monorail to Jupiters Casino.