During NAIDOC Week (2nd – 9th July 2017) AccorHotels across Australia will be celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples through special activities designed to provide cultural tourism experiences for guests.
Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels Pacific, Simon McGrath, said “NAIDOC Week provides a great opportunity for our teams to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our society and to share those stories with our guests in interesting ways.
“Both our Australia and international guests have told us that when they are travelling in Australia cultural tourism is high on their agenda. We have implemented these options for our guests year round and during NAIDOC Week we celebrate the voice of our Indigenous employees and our commitment to sharing Indigenous culture with our guests.
“AccorHotels has been acknowledged as a standout performer in the Australian Indigenous reconciliation space and AccorHotels has continued to proactively and passionately provide Indigenous Australians with employment and training opportunities since 2001.”
Cultural activities happening at AccorHotels across NAIDOC Week include:
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Margaret River
Jingii ‘Learn About’ Sessions
These sessions are a fun way for kids to learn the local Noongar language and about local native animals including the Australian Kangaroo and humpback whales. Sessions include interactive lessons including dancing and colouring in. The program is named Jingii is this is the traditional name for Bunker Bay.
Six Seasons Garden Exploration
During NAIDOC week the hotel will officially open its Indigenous Garden Journey. Guests can discover and learn about the plants that are native to the region. The walk starts at the magnificent 500 year old balgas (Xanthorrhoea) at the front of the resort, and will take guests across the 34 acres of the property.
Karla Wongi ‘Fire Talking’
A sundown ceremony will take place at the hotel for guests called Karla Wongi, which translates to “Fire Talking” in local Wardandi language. This event will be an ethereal evening of Indigenous language and Dreamtime stories with local Wardandi elder Bill and Nina Webb. The evening will be complemented by bush tucker inspired bites utilising the region’s local produce.
For more information, visit: pullmanbunkerbayresort.com.au/en/whats-on/overview.html
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
Each day of NAIDOC Week, Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel will be hosting a different event for guests including traditional art and craft classes with local artists, language lessons, movie screenings and an art gallery tour including complimentary tea. The Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel has also found a powerful way to engage guests through the local Aboriginal art program which has now played a role in the hotel refurbishment. The artwork has been applied to the bed runners and cushion covers in guest rooms and exhibits the deep connection between the Bininj people, their language and country. TheX-Ray designs include the ‘Ginga’ saltwater crocodile and utilise dot art to tell culturally significant stories that are unchanged for thousands of years. The hotel worked with Tim Djanjdomerr, Ivan Narmanyilk, Robert Narmanyilk and Thompson Nganmirra and ‘Better World Arts’ to produce the final product that provides a huge injection of local art and culture in each room.
For more information, please call the hotel on 08 8979 9000.
Ibis Adelaide
During NAIDOC Week guests at ibis Adelaide will have the chance to experience a special three course meal inspired by the local traditions of the Karuna people. Priced at just $55 per person, the menu included items such as Wallaby Shanks and Salt Bush Pavlova and can be matched with a delicious Green Ant Gin & Desert Lime Martini.
For more information or to book, please call the hotel on (08) 8159 5588 or visit ibisadelaide.com.au.
ACCORHOTELS SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
Accor Asia Pacific, the largest hotel group in Australia, has been acknowledged as a standout performer in the Australian Indigenous reconciliation space. AccorHotels has continued to proactively and passionately provide Indigenous Australians with employment and training opportunities since 2001. With a commitment to actively seeking, training and hiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, AccorHotels holds 25 Indigenous Employment Training Programs around Australia every year. Over the past two years AccorHotels has successfully employed over 600 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander employees and appointed its first ever Indigenous General Manager in 2016.
AccorHotels’ Reconciliation Journey
2001 – AccorHotels inaugural National Commitment to Indigenous employment launched
2009 – 200 Employees, community and business partnerships in operation
2011 – 250 employees and Inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan launched
2014 – 300 employees at 3.5% of workforce
2015 – Signed Employment Parity Initiative with Federal Government targeting 660 new job outcomes by 2018
2016 – 500 Indigenous employees in the workforce and 1st General Manager appointed
2018 – Targeting 700 Indigenous employees, 100 leaders and 7% of total workforce