Something for every budg

Accommodation focus by Teresa Machan

Something for every budg

Wide range of affordable options to choose from

LARGE post-Olympics growth in UK inbound business to Australia in the economy and backpacking market is fuelling rapid expansion of Accor’s popular budget brand, Formule 1.

Seven years after it was introduced to Australia, its red and yellow logo has become a familiar sight to visitors willing to trade in character for consistency and affordability.

Often referred to as the McDonald’s of accommodation, the chain is growing as quickly as its hamburger counterpart, with five F1 hotels opening in the last six months in Australia – in Canberra, Melbourne, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour and Brisbane – with more to follow. Sydney will soon gain its fifth F1 property and the St Peters property is being extended to cope with demand.

All F1s offer identical rooms featuring a queen-size bed and overhead single bunk plus an en suite bathroom.

There is a ‘one-rate’ policy in the state capital cities (Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne) of £21 for up to three people, but the rate is even lower in regional cities such as Canberra, at just £16. Business is already booming at the Dandenong F1, in Melbourne, which opened in February, and Brisbane Airport F1 has had similar success in the Queensland capital.

The first property in the new three-star economy Ibis 2003 concept, which is based on a similar modular design, opened last year at Sydney Airport with the one-rate room rate of £35.

An Accor spokesman said: “Accor has a nationwide Ibis network, all operating with the one-price People’s Price formula, which has really thrown the three-star economy market wide open.”

F1 and Ibis will be Accor’s main brand development areas over the next five years.

Familiar sight: five Formule 1 hotels have opened in Australia in the last six months