In a major coup for Knox Basketball, world renowned hotel group Accor has agreed to terms to become a Major Sponsor and the preferred accommodation partner of KBI and the Knox ‘Under Armour’ Raiders.

The deal will encompass both Novotel Melbourne Glen Waverley and Ibis Melbourne Glen Waverley, giving two price point options to KBI members, visiting SEABL teams, and travelling tournament teams and officials.

The Novotel & Ibis are ideally located just five minutes drive from the new State Basketball Centre on High Street Road, Wantirna South whilst only being 20 minutes drive south east of Melbourne's CBD.

This year will see the Novotel complete a $6 million refurbishment of their 200 accommodation rooms whilst the Ibis offers 155 contemporary rooms. Both hotels sit in the heart of Glen Waverley village, surrounded by shops, restaurants, cafes and a cinema complex.

General Manager of Novotel Melbourne Glen Waverley, Andrew Maynard, is excited by the new partnership with Knox Basketball and believes the proximity of the new State Basketball Centre to the Novotel and Ibis will be of great benefit to travelling teams and officials.

“We’re delighted to be supporting Knox Basketball in their quest to attract and develop world class sporting talent in Melbourne’s south east.  State of the art sporting facilities such as the State Basketball Centre are fundamental to cultivating our local talent as well as attracting national and international visitors to the region.  We’re delighted to be associated with what is sure to become an iconic venue in Australia’s sporting landscape and look forward to strengthening our partnership well into the future,” said Maynard.

The Novotel Melbourne Glen Waverley will host the Australian Boomers in June when the team comes to Melbourne to train and play in the farewell series against Greece as preparations for the 2012 London Olympic Games reaches fever pitch.

Knox Basketball CEO, Wayne Carroll spoke about the newly formed agreement and is thrilled to have such an iconic brand align itself with the association.

“It’s a great reflection of the strength of KBI to be able to attract such iconic hotel brands as the Novotel and Ibis. We think this partnership will be very beneficial to both parties and we look forward to growing our relationship with both Glen Waverley hotels over the coming years.

“With the opening of the State Basketball Centre just a few months away, we think aligning ourselves with two great accommodation venues just a few minutes up the road is going to be a give us the ability to offer some great options and deals to visiting teams and officials, particularly with the tournaments and championships we are hoping the new venue will attract.

“I should also mention the wonderful support Quest Apartments Knox has provided KBI over a number of years. Quest have been instrumental in some of the success KBI has shared over the past six years and we wish Mark O’Shea and the team all the best moving forwards,” said Carroll.

For more information on either the Novotel or Ibis, visit www.novotelglenwaverley.com.au or www.ibishotel.com/6413