Accor has announced the appointment of Craig Kelmar as General Manager of the Pullman, Novotel and ibis Sydney Olympic Park precinct. The executive thus returns to the property where he took his first steps in the industry eighteen years earlier, as Assistant Food & Beverage Manager.
Situated at the heart of one of the Pacific region’s major sporting and events hubs, in the immediate vicinity of Accor Stadium and Qudos Bank Arena, the precinct brings together three brands from the group’s portfolio and represents a strategic hub for welcoming business and events guests to Sydney.
A career built entirely within Accor
Craig Kelmar has more than twenty-two years of experience with Accor, a career that began in Western Australia as a porter at Novotel Vines Resort, before he joined the national Vivier training programme in 2007. His journey has since taken him across Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.
Following a stint at the Novotel and ibis Sydney Olympic Park in 2008, he went on to hold rooms division leadership roles at Novotel Perth Langley, before securing his first General Manager position at Mercure Broome in 2016, where he oversaw a 136-room property generating annual revenue of AU$8.5 million, or around €5.1 million.
He then led the opening of the 250-room Adnate Hotel in Perth as part of Art Series Hotels, before returning to the Accor fold as Cluster General Manager for the group’s ibis properties in Victoria, and subsequently as General Manager of the Novotel and ibis Melbourne Central since January 2024.
A strategic precinct for Accor in Sydney
The Pullman, Novotel and ibis Sydney Olympic Park forms part of a wider brand network through which the French group maintains a long-standing presence in Australia, alongside properties such as the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, which recently welcomed a new General Manager. The Pacific region continues to see active leadership movement for Accor more broadly, as illustrated by the appointment of Rob McIntyre to lead operations in New Zealand and Fiji.
In his new role, Craig Kelmar will focus on operational excellence, team development and guest experience, with the aim of optimising returns for all stakeholders across the portfolio. “I am delighted to take on the role of General Manager of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct and to join the Pullman, Novotel and ibis teams. After more than twenty years with Accor, I look forward to bringing that experience to a new market, building on the strengths of the precinct and delivering memorable experiences for our guests,” said Craig Kelmar.
The appointment reflects the internal mobility that the group actively fosters in Australia, a market in which Accor has also recently seen some of its executives move to competing operators, as with Brett Forer’s departure to EVT Hotels & Resorts after nearly twenty years at Accor.
🔗 Also on LTH: Australia: Mark Burns appointed General Manager of Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
At a Glance
New role: Craig Kelmar appointed Precinct General Manager, Pullman, Novotel & ibis Sydney Olympic Park
Effective: August 2026
Career: Over 22 years with Accor across Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales
Previous role: General Manager, Novotel & ibis Melbourne Central (since January 2024)
Full-circle moment: First joined the precinct 18 years ago as Assistant F&B Manager
Location: Sydney Olympic Park, adjacent to Accor Stadium and Qudos Bank Arena
