Accor Middle East is unveiling its Middle East expansion plans which will bring the group’s regional portfolio to 100 hotels by 2017. The expanded portfolio will cover the economy, midscale, upscale and luxury sectors with Accor brands such as ibis Styles, Adagio, Novotel and Sofitel.

Details of Accor ME’s expansion are being revealed during its participation at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conferences (AHIC) which runs from until 5th May, and the Arabian Travel Market 2014, which is held from 5-8 May. Top Accor executives from its head office in France will be present at both events.

“Accor has ambitious plans for the Middle East and our participation in this year’s AHIC and ATM will highlight how we continue to advance our regional network,” said Christophe Landais, Managing Director for Accor Middle East.

“Accor is well on target to reach our goal of having 100 hotels within the coming three years in the region. We have already opened six hotels this year in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and intend to open eight more by the end of 2014 – an average of more than one per month.”

Arabian Hotel Investment Conference

At this year’s AHIC, Jean-Jacques Dessors, Chief Executive Officer for Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa at Accor and Olivier Granet, Director of Development, Middle East at Accor will take part in panel sessions on Monday May 5. On a panel titled “Defining the Growth Markets,” Mr. Dessors will share insights into the landscape for hotel brand growth in the Middle East and how brands can best support owners. On a panel on “Succeeding in the Economy & Mid-Market,” Mr. Granet will discuss the booming demand for more affordable and attractive hotel products.

During AHIC, at which Accor is an Emerald sponsor, Mr. Dessors and Mr. Granet will highlight the many recent milestones Accor has achieved in the region, including:
· The opening in 2014 of 14 new properties spanning from luxury to economy segments adding 3,173 rooms in the region, mainly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
· The rapid expansion of Accor’s midscale brand, Novotel, which, during 2014 so far, has celebrated the opening of its sixth and seventh hotels in the UAE – the Novotel Fujairah and the Novotel Al Bustan
· The introduction of new brand ibis Styles with ibis Styles Dragon Mart and the expansion of the ibis brand footprint in the Middle East. This includes the development of the region’s largest economy hotel – ibis World Trade Center 2 – with 588 rooms, and Accor’s strategic partnership with Alesayi to develop the ibis brand in Saudi Arabia
· The regional launch of the Accor’s Adagio apart hotel brand, which was kicked off this year with the Adagio Fujairah Town Centre in the UAE. Accor also has six additional Adagio apart hotels in development across the region