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spanning Australia, Indonesia, and New Zealand. The range of resorts
in the club is vast: a boutique hotel in Melbourne, Australia, with
Parisian flair; an old-world manor on 14 acres (5.7 hectares) of vine-
yards in Australia’s Margaret River region; a luxurious escape in the
bushlands of New Zealand’s North Island; and a lush island enclave
backed by distinctively green mountains on Bali, Indonesia. One-, two-
and three-bedroom units are sold as part of a points-based club, with
prices ranging from AU$18,400 (US$13,500) to AU$102,000
(US$75,000).
“We have an extensive range of levels that can suit any buyer,
whether it be for a couple looking for weekend escapes or a large fam-
ily looking to make that once-in-a-lifetime holiday,” says Becker.
In 2011, Accor acquired Sebel, one of Australia’s iconic hospitality
brands. That led to a comprehensive rebranding of Accor Vacation
Club’s Grand Mercure properties. Sebel was launched in 1963 with the
opening of Sydney, Australia’s The Sebel Townhouse. Today, there are
more than 20 Sebel locations across Australia
in New South Wales, Queensland, South
Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia,
and in Auckland, New Zealand.
The Accor Hotels Select program was cre-
ated in 2012. The program allows Accor
Vacation Club Premiere Plus members to make
reservations at select Accor Hotels using their
points. The program widely expanded the net-
work of accommodations available to these
members in high-demand locales, including
urban destinations in Auckland, New Zealand;
Brisbane, Australia; tropical Cairns, Australia;
the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney,
Australia; and Broome, Australia, the coastal
gateway to the Kimberley region.
Engaged Members
The majority of Accor Vacation Club members
are Australian residents, with more than half
residing in New South Wales and Queensland.
“However, we do have members from all over the world who enjoy
the Club while in Australia or use their membership globally through
Interval International exchanges,” Becker says. “The member base is
extremely diverse. This comes down to the fact that we are able to
offer membership levels that will suit almost anyone, as well as having
a varied portfolio of properties from tropical climates to central busi-
ness–district locations to wineries and even snow fields.”
To keep members abreast of new initiatives, properties, and refur-
bishment progress, as well as added benefits and resorts through
Interval International and its vacation exchange network, Accor
Vacation Club frequently hosts informational seminars across Australia.
The workshops give members an opportunity to socialize and swap
vacation stories.
The company reported record attendance at 2015 workshops in
Adelaide, Coffs Harbour, and Hunter Valley. Members are encouraged
to share their vacation experiences on vari-
ous social media platforms, including Accor
Vacation Club’s new Facebook, Instagram,
and Twitter sites.
“Interval International and its long-
standing partner Accor Vacation Club go to
great lengths to ensure members are up to
date with the latest offerings and company
news,” says Interval’s Joe Hickman, vice
president and executive director, resort sales
and service, Asia/Pacific. “This constant
communication has proved instrumental in
maintaining high rates of satisfaction among
our Asia/Pacific member base.”
See page 2 for currency conversions.
Eric Kalis has more than a decade of writing
and editing experience at business-oriented
newspapers, magazines, and websites.
37
Developer:
Accor Vacation Club, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Accor Hotels; Craig
Wood, CEO
Location:
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Product:
Points-based club
Units:
One, two- and three-bedrooms
Price:
AU$18,400 (US$13,500) to
AU$102,000 (US$75,000)
Website:
accorvacationclub.com.au
Social Media:
Facebook, Instagram, and
Coral Coast Resort
Palm Cove
fast
facts
AN INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL PREMIER RESORT