Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain Lodge is the latest boutique hotel to join Accor’s upscale MGallery collection, following its recent sale by GPT to the McFie Group.

Iconic: Cradle Mountain Lodge

Opened in 1972 as Pencil Pine Lodge and transformed over the years into a world-class hotel with 86 guest cabins, the multi award-winning Cradle Mountain Lodge boasts an enviable location at the entrance to the spectacular World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park in the northern Tasmanian highlands, just over an hour’s drive from Devonport and two hours from Launceston.

“It is great to be part of a new brand as it evolves and to have the support of the Accor group and network,” said McFie Group sales and marketing manager, Bernie Cochran.

“We are very excited about joining the MGallery collection because we feel Cradle Mountain Lodge is the perfect fit for a brand that is centered on experiential hospitality, location and a distinctive personality. 

“MGallery hotels all have a very unique personality and a strong connection to the areas where they are located, so Cradle Mountain Lodge epitomises what the brand signifies.
 
“We feel that being part of the MGallery collection will further grow the awareness and appeal of Cradle Mountain Lodge as an iconic Australian boutique hospitality experience in key markets around the globe – particularly Europe, where Accor is the market leader,” Cochran said.

Accor Asia Pacific Chairman Michael Issenberg said the signing of such a renowned and high quality property as Cradle Mountain Lodge to MGallery reflects Accor’s commitment to growing its collection of individual, upscale hotels with their own distinctive personalities.

“This is a strategic addition to the MGallery collection and one that will have global appeal to the increasing number of travellers seeking accommodation with true character in wilderness surrounds,” he said.

“Cradle Mountain Lodge is a name that instantly conjures specific images and is very much in keeping with the MGallery promise of a unique, authentic experience,” Issenberg said.

The MGallery collection currently stands at 27 hotels that meet the label’s strict criteria for excellence including the Hotel Century Old Town in Prague, The Convent in Amsterdam, the Grand Hotel in Melbourne, Hotel St Moritz in Queenstown and Hotel Baltimore in Paris.

Launched in September 2008 the MGallery network is expected to grow to over 40 properties globally by the end of 2010.