'Botox' to revive iconic Blue Mountains hotel

Construction to transform the iconic Fairmont Hotel in the NSW Blue Mountains is already underway with a $20 million renovation by new owners, Accor, who will rebrand and add the property to its high end MGallery Collection.

Accor Asia Pacific, General Manager Communications, Peter Hook explained "he body of the hotel is really good, the location is good, but it just needs a lot of Botox."

Set to open by April 2011, the new rooms and facilities, which include an upgraded day spa, will be promoted primarily to families and couples for short breaks, in conjunction with promotion of the property as a venue for conferences, weddings or functions.

Opened in 1988, the Fairmont Resort was the first major upscale hotel in the Blue Mountains, and with the latest refurbishment, Hook said it will play an important part for the industry to revive tourism to the area.

Accor reported a record year in 2010 advising 11 months of the year performed record business of all time. The group saw a 4% increase in inbound business compared to a whopping 36% outbound surge. Forecasting for 2011, Hook said rates were set to rise, however should be seen as favourable for the industry with new hotels expected to open following the increase in revenue.