Boost For Regional Tourism With Accor's Takeover of Fortland Trust Hotels

Accor expands in key regional centres in Queensland and Northern Territory

19 September 2000: Australia's largest hotel group, Accor, is to add seven
hotels in key centres in Queensland and the Northern Territory, when it
takes over the leases and management contracts of hotels that are currently
part of the Fortland Hotel Property Trust.

Accor will take over leases on six hotels:
* Fortland Burke & Wills and Outback Motor Inn in Mt Isa;
* Fortland Leichardt Hotel in Rockhampton;
* Fortland Burke & Wills Hotel in Toowoomba;
* Fortland Four Dice Hotel in Mackay;
* and Fortland Diplomat Hotel in Alice Springs.

Accor will also take over management of the eco-accredited Oasis Lodge at
the entrance of the Carnarvon Gorge in central Queensland.

The hotels (except for Oasis Lodge) will be rebranded as Mercure Hotels or
Inns. They join a network of over 35 Mercure hotels in Australia, including
many prime regional destinations. All the hotels will join the Accor group
under long term lease and management agreements.

Commenting on the addition of the Fortland portfolio, Accor Managing
Director Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific and Japan, Michael Issenberg,
said: The addition of the Fortland Group hotels is a highly strategic move
for Accor. It gives us representation in a number of major regional centres
for the first time, and all seven hotels are extremely well positioned in
their respective markets.

It has been Accor's long-term goal to build a comprehensive network of
hotels that includes both capital and regional centres. We were the first
hotel group to have representation in every State and Territory, and now we
are again leading the sector in building a strong regional network.

Cities such as Mt Isa, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Mackay and Alice Springs are
all vibrant centres for industry and commerce, while the Oasis Lodge in the
Carnarvon Gorge area has attracted world-recognition for its commitment to
the highest standards of environmental excellence. It will complement El
Questro in the Western Australia Kimberley region, which Accor also manages.

Regional tourism will benefit considerably by Accor's move, as these
centres will now have the advantage of being supported by internationally
recognised hotel brands, as well as the expertise and resources of a global
sales, marketing and reservations network. The importance of networks has
never been greater, and is set to increase further in the years to come. It
enables our guests to take advantage of 'one stop shopping' – with some 100
hotels across Australia available for booking via one telephone call or the
one internet site.

The driving force behind the Fortland Hotel Trust has been Sir Frank Moore,
a pioneer of Queensland and Australian tourism. We are particularly pleased
that Sir Frank will continue to be involved with the hotels, and we look
forward to working closely with him to further develop their potential.

For the employees of the Fortland hotels, they will now have greater
opportunity to develop their careers, through extra training and through the
ability to move to other hotels in the Accor group.