The nation's largest hotel chain is sheltering people fleeing domestic violence as front-line workers say incidents of household abuse are on the rise as a result of the pressures caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

International hotel group Accor has revealed it is housing vulnerable people, including victims of family violence, the homeless and worn-out medical workers in need of alternative accommodation, in its Sydney CBD rooms as well as other beds throughout the state. The group owns brands such as Ibis, Sofitel and Swissotel.

One of the hotel rooms domestic violence survivors and homeless Sydneysiders have been offered during the COVID-19 crisis. Credit:Accor

Chief operating officer in Australia Simon McGrath said that while the tourism and hospitality industry had been decimated by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, using empty rooms to protect those in need had been a valuable way to redeploy the group's abundant resources.

"Our doors are open," Mr McGrath told the Herald. "We have accommodation assets that can help people in times of need, and while the industry's been devastated commercially, it doesn’t mean we can’t help."