Australia’s largest hotel group, AccorHotels, is proud to be celebrating National Reconciliation Week from 27 May to 3 June 2017 while continuing to be a passionate leader in encouraging cultural tourism within its hotels.
AccorHotels has identified cultural tourism as playing a crucial role in bringing greater awareness to Australia’s heritage and has developed a clear strategy to engage both employees and guests, through key cultural milestones such as National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC week.
Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels Pacific, said “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people now represent 5% of our workforce in Australia and one of our goals is to build confidence in our 565 Indigenous employees and provide opportunities to lead cultural activities within our hotels. This may be done through sharing stories, educating guests on the cultural history of the land, or performing traditional ceremonies.
“It is pleasing to see our hotels actively celebrating National Reconciliation Week, be it through specialised Indigenous menus, art and didgeridoo classes, and we look forward to seeing our guests engage with these rituals and share in the cultural transfer”.
AccorHotels around Australia are celebrating National Reconciliation Week by partaking in a number of initiatives some of which include:
Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour will be incorporating an impressive Indigenous inspired menu throughout The Ternary which includes chicken and Lemon Myrtle sausages and hot smoked kangaroo with bush tomato chutney at breakfast. The hotel’s conferencing lunch menus will be designed each day round an Indigenous theme and will include items such as Barramundi and bush produce; while the staff canteen will be stocked with pan fried Barramundi fillet with Lemon Myrtle veloute and toasted macadamia nuts, steamed native greens roasted chat potatoes with mountain pepper.
Ibis Adelaide is encouraging storytelling and will be using an Indigenous inspired menu, developed with Indigenous team members to provide a unique experience for guests during Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC week.
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel has found a powerful way to engage guests through a local Aboriginal art program which has now played a role in the hotel’s refurbishment.
The artwork applied to the bed runners and cushion covers in guestrooms exhibits the deep connection between the Bininj people, their language and country.
Novotel Wollongong Northbeach will be hosting a morning tea with local Indigenous school children and Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach will be hosting didgeridoo classes as well as Indigenous art classes.
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth will be raising the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Flag and will also be celebrating a Taste for Success cooking demonstration for hotel staff which will be hosted by Vic Cherikoff who is regarded as a pioneer of the native Australian food industry and has nearly 30 years of experience in commercializing wild food species – taking them from the wild as bush tucker to developing them into authentic Australian foods.
Ibis Styles Katherine is partnering with Top Diji Cultural Centre and is creating a local Aboriginal art display in the lobby while Novotel Barossa Valley Resort will be offering a two-course Indigenous inspired menu in its famed Cellar Kitchen restaurant while local Indigenous artists will have their works displayed in the lobby. A Local Elder will be speaking at a cultural bonfire to commence Reconciliation Week which is open to locals as well as resort guests.
For more information on AccorHotels visit www.accorhotels.com