London, June 20, 2002 _. In an announcement made at the brand-new Sofitel Saint James in
London, Jean-Marc Espalioux, Chairman of the Accor Management Board, today officially
unveiled an exceptional schedule of openings for Sofitel, the Group’s luxury hotel chain.
The Sofitel network will thus include 160 properties (32,203 rooms) in 53 countries.
In all, 11 new Sofitels totaling 3,194 rooms have recently been or will soon be opened at
prestigious addresses and in unique locations:
- Sofitel Saint James London (186 rooms) in Mayfair, one of London’s most elegant
neighborhoods. The hotel, which opened in April, will soon become the preferred up-market
choice of business people and discriminating travelers. - Sofitel Palm Beach Marseille (160 rooms) on the Corniche Kennedy. Opened in May, the
hotel enjoys an unparalleled view of the Mediterranean. - Sofitel Chicago Water Tower (415 rooms) near the Magnificent Mile and The Loop, the
city’s business district. Its dazzling white stone façades, mirrored windows and unique
“leaning tower” architecture create a striking contrast with the surrounding skyscrapers. The hotel opens in June. - Sofitel Marrakech (260 rooms) in the heart of the city, offering magnificent views of the
Atlas Mountains, the hotel’s Arab-Andalusian gardens or the swimming pool. It opens in
June.
- Sofitel Jin Jiang Oriental Pudong (549 rooms), overlooking the city in Shanghai’s Pudong
business district. Opened in June, the tower is a true marvel of contemporary architecture. - Sofitel Lafayette Square Washington D.C. (237 rooms), just minutes from the White House.
The hotel, to open in June, is an elegant restoration of a “modern art” building of the 1920s. - Sofitel Cologne am Dom (207 rooms), facing Philharmonic Hall. Built in the typically
German style of the 1960s, the hotel is one of the city’s architectural landmarks. It is
scheduled to open in July. - Sofitel Silom Bangkok (454 rooms), located on the world-famous Silom Road. The hotel, to
open in September, combines the elegance of Thai decor with Western standards of
comfort.
- Sofitel Montréal (258 rooms) on the Golden Mile near Parc Mont Royal. The hotel, which
will open in September, features refined contemporary design that blends in perfectly with
the surrounding urban environment. - Sofitel Buenos Aires (144 rooms) located on the Retiro near the city’s antiques shops. The
hotel, to open in November, occupies a magnificent neo-classical building dating from 1929. - Sofitel Venezia in Isola (324 rooms), an impressive, harmonious 20
th
century building
located on a private island in the Venetian lagoon, just a ten-minute boat ride from Saint
Mark’s Square. The hotel is scheduled to open in winter 2002/2003.
Offering a variety of styles yet consistently outstanding quality, the Sofitel network comprises
highly contemporary buildings designed by today’s leading architects, as well as elegant
dwellings of the past and legendary palaces.
Each hotel has its own personality and atmosphere, imbued with its history and location. All
share a distinctly French spirit, characterized by elegant décor, gracious hospitality and refined
service. The chain’s gourmet restaurants have also helped enhance Sofitel’s reputation around
the world.
Thanks to the Group’s development, Sofitel, the prestige brand of Accor hotels, has become a
major player in the international luxury hotel industry and is the up-and-coming chain in its
category.
With 147,000 associates in 140 countries, Accor is the European leader and one of the world`s
largest groups in travel, tourism and corporate services, with two major international activities:
- hotels: 3,700 hotels (415,000 rooms) in 90 countries, casinos, travel agencies, and
restaurants;
- services to corporate clients and public institutions: each day, 13 million people in 31
countries use a broad range of services (food vouchers, people care and services, incentive,
loyalty programs, events) engineered and managed by Accor.
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