One of Canberra’s most historic hotels, Olims, has joined Accor’s Mercure brand after completing an AU$8 million (US$7.9 million) renovation. The 80 year-old hotel was originally launched as the Ainslie Hotel before becoming the Ainslie Ladies Hotel in the 1940s, the Ainslie Rex hotel in the 1950s, and then Olims in 1989. It will now be called the Mercure Canberra.
“Having been a major part of Canberra’s tourism industry for almost 85 years, we are looking forward to the hotel getting a new lease of life with the renovations and the rebranding,” said Jerry Schwartz, one of the hotel’s owners.
“The hotel has been very popular with the local market since it was launched as the Ainslie, but with the new look and style, and Canberra’s growing popularity with international travellers, it was time to give the hotel global branding,” he added.
The 128-room Mercure Canberra has undergone a major overhaul, with all standard rooms receiving new bathrooms, paint, furnishings and fittings. The hotel foyer has also been refurbished and a new restaurant has been launched to complement the existing Bistro. Refurbishment of the remainder of the public areas and rooms will be completed by the end of the year, although the hotel will still be accepting guests during this period.