European hotel group Accor announced Wednesday the rebranding of its Novotel Dalat Hotel in Central Highlands

Dalat City to Mercure Dalat Hotel to highlight the historical value of the 77-year-old property.

The hotel, formally known as the Hotel Du Parc, is among 11 Vietnam-based hotels under the management of Accor, the largest international hotel operator in Vietnam.

“The hotel being re-branded as a Mercure is a strategic move that will allow the hotel to reflect its true personality with the city’s inimitable identity and heritage,” Patrick Basset, Accor’s deputy president for Vietnam, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan, told The Saigon Times Daily.

Mercure is known for its facilities which blend classic and contemporary styles that reflect the hotel’s local personality. It is the second largest hotel network in the world, outside of North America, in terms of the number of rooms.

Built in 1932 at the heart of Dalat City, the 144-room hotel is equipped with premium in-room amenities, en suite bath or shower, satellite TV and complimentary WiFi internet access.

The property will maintain its French colonial style and traditions while embracing some of Mercure’s worldwide brand traits.

Mercure Dalat marks its presence by offering packages starting from US$59++ per person for a standard room per night, $74++ per person for a superior room per night, and $109++ per person for a suite per night.

Known as honeymoon mecca in Vietnam, Dalat is popular among local and foreign tourists for its serene landscape, cool climate and a high concentration of charming old French-styled houses and villas.

Accor is one of the world’s leading hotel managers with a network of more than 4,000 hotels in 90 countries.

The group, which is managing 11 hotels across Vietnam under the Sofitel, Novotel and Grand Mercure brands, is planning to operate 20 hotels in the country by 2011.