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News 1/11/2006   

Outrigger plotting Australia return
Steve Jones
 


Outrigger has revealed plans to rebuild the brand in Australia less than three months after selling its entire portfolio to MFS for $120 million.

The brand will disappear in Australia and New Zealand from mid December when its 14 properties become part of the Mantra and Peppers chains.

But under the terms of the MFS deal, Outrigger retained the rights to the brand.

Vice president operations Cliff Olsen revealed it is looking for a quick return to Australia with plans to open 12 properties within five years and the first by 2008.

He said the properties will be a mix of resort-style and traditional city hotels in central business districts.

“Our goal is to open in gateway cities in Australia and New Zealand but we would also be very interested in getting back in to places like Palm Cove and Cairns and Queenstown,” Olsen told Travel Today.

He said discussions were taking place over new-build hotels in Melbourne and Brisbane.

“We want to capitalise on the corporate market and leisure weekend travellers,” he said.

Olsen said Outrigger sold the portfolio to release capital for further expansion.

1 November 2006


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