Accor has announced plans to reopen two of its major hotels in Christchurch, New Zealand, over a year after a devastating earthquake struck the town in February 2012.

Hotel Ibis Christchurch is the first hotel scheduled to reopen, with a target date of September 2012. Novotel Christchurch will follow, with a planned reopening date of April 2013.

Decisions on the future of Accor's two All Seasons hotels in Christchurch are still pending as access – particularly to the Cashel Street property – has been severely restricted by ongoing demolition work in the area.

According to Accor, there is a critical shortage of accommodation in Christchurch and the reopening of these hotels will allow significant progress to be made in reviving Christchurch’s commercial and tourist fortunes.

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