Sunderland hotel workers set for pay rise as hotel chain agrees to pay new living wage

Mecure Newcastle George Washington Hotel Golf and Spa in Washington

A hotel chain employing thousands of workers across the UK is to pay the new national living wage to all its staff, irrespective of age.

AccorHotels, who have three hotels in the North East including the Mecure Newcastle George Washington Hotel Golf and Spa in Washington, said it will go beyond the statutory age of 25 for paying the Â£7.20-an-hour rate, which came into effect this month.

The French-owned group employs 5,000 staff in the UK in hotels including Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel and Ibis.

Managing director Thomas Dubaere said: "We believe in investing in our people, irrespective of age, alongside the lifelong learning and international mobility opportunities in the group.

"We are proud to be part of an industry which is creating jobs and we want to take this opportunity to have all members of AccorHotels' employees, including under 25, on the national living wage and above."