Predictions that hotels at Sydney’s Olympic Park were white elephants were “way off the mark” say Accor Hotels.

The Accor hotel group, which manages The Novotel and Ibis at the 2000 Olympics site, has recorded occupancy levels of between 82 and 86 per cent in September, with bookings for October and November looking equally strong.

“There is a perception that Olympic Park is only about sporting events,” says Accor general manager Mark Ronfeldt. “But even during the SARS and Iraq period the Olympic Park hotels were performing equally strongly, thanks to the fact that the Olympic Park venues worked closely together to win conference business by designing innovative programmes that made the most of Olympic Park’s unique facilities.”

Despite fears that it would not attract large numbers of people after the Olympics, Sydney Olympic Park has established a strong reputation as a major national and international conference centre. All of the park’s venues can be used for conferences and exhibitions, including the Olympic stadium, SuperDome, Aquatic centre and State Sports Centre.

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