Accor Sets Pace With Pearl River Delta Expansion

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. October 14, 2008

HONG KONG, China, May 23, 2006. Accor builds hotel network in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Macau and Qingyuan; partners with China Southern Airlines; and launches a new reservations centre in Guangzhou. Accor is targeting the Pearl River Delta, aiming to double its hotel presence in China's southern economic power-zone.

At the start of 2006, Accor operated seven hotels in the Pearl River Delta - in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Dongguan. By 2008 this is likely to increase to at least 12 hotels, with major new Sofitel, Novotel and Ibis projects under development.

Accor's expansion in the Pearl River Delta is part of the company's rapid development in China that will see the company grow its network from the current 34 hotels to over 50 in the next two years.

Last month, Accor's fifth hotel in Hong Kong - Novotel Citygate - opened, and this will be followed in October by the launch of the highly strategic Novotel at the new Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou.

The new Baiyun International Airport is expected to rival Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok, with a capacity to handle up to 60 million passengers a year by 2010.

The Novotel will be the only hotel at Baiyun International The 450-room Novotel is only a short five-minute walk from the main terminal and easily accessible from both the arrival or departure halls. Once completed Novotel Baiyun Airport Guangzhou will offer four restaurants and a lobby lounge, a 450sqm multi-function meeting space, health centre, swimming pool and business centre.

In the following year, the Sofitel Guangzhou will open in the heart of the city. The Sofitel is connected with the 60-storey Asia Pacific Century Plaza and is set to become a new landmark for the city. The Sofitel will have 451rooms and suites, three restaurants, two bars, a business centre, an indoor swimming pool, rooftop tennis court, Club Sofitel floors and executive lounge, Sofitel Library, Cafe Lenotre and patisserie, Le Spa wellness complex, and a 1000sqm ballroom. It is designed to China's premier 5-star platinum hotel standard with guest rooms starting from 36sqm.

Another Sofitel will open in Guangdong Province in 2008. Qingyuan is the 'rising economic star' of Guangdong and the Sofitel Riverside will be the first internationally managed five-star hotel in the destination. The hotel is being developed as a major leisure retreat and MICE centre for southern China. The hotel is located an hour from the new Guangzhou International Airport and will offer three restaurants and two bars, a 6,000 sqm entertainment complex, two meeting rooms, business centre, and two swimming pools each with an adjacent fitness centre and spa facility.

One of the most significant openings for the Sofitel network in 2007 will be Sofitel Macau@Ponte 16 in one of Macau's most significant and historic precincts.

The development will echo the Inner Harbour area's historical relics and heritage, protecting landmarks such as the Old Clock Tower, the focal point of project. Sofitel Macau@Ponte 16 will be on the right side of the Clock Tower, the left side will house retail shops, restaurants, a Cineplex and massive casino complex. Cobblestone streets will connect the different sectors of a project site which covers over 23,000 sqm and will cost HK$2.4 billion.

The Sofitel will be one of Macau's most prestigious deluxe hotels. Built around the remaining facade of Pier 16, the 17-storey Sofitel Macau will have 440-rooms, two restaurants and two bars, swimming pool, a spa and wellness centre, business centre, and a 700 sqm multi-function conference room plus additional meeting rooms. The hotel will also have a Club Sofitel Lounge and executive floors.

Accor's pioneering economy hotel brand, Ibis, is also planned for Guangdong. Hotel sites are being considered for Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan and Zhuhai.

Complementing the hotel expansion in the Pearl River Delta, Accor has signed a partnership agreement with Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines. The agreement will see Accor join the airline's Sky Pearl programme, offering points for China Southern customers at Accor hotels worldwide.

Accor's first reservations centre has opened in Guangzhou providing call-centre services for Greater China. Part of the global Accor Reservations Service, the centre is expected to book some 500,000 room nights per annum for Accor's global network of over 4000 hotels.

Accor's CEO for Greater China, Brian Deeson, said that Accor had targeted the Pearl River Delta because of its strong economic and tourism potential.

'We have seen double-digit growth in travel to Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong for a number of years, and with increased attractions and infrastructure, the growth is likely to accelerate even further,' said Mr Deeson.

'Accor will offer the widest range of hotel styles to meet the needs of business, leisure and conference guests, and we are unique amongst international hotel groups in that our hotels cover the luxury, mid-market and economy sectors.

'The growth in the Pearl River Delta region complements our overall China expansion, which will see the group's hotel network add 20 hotels in less than two years, and we anticipate signing a number of new projects during the remainder of 2006.'

Mr Deeson made the announcement during the World of Accor trade expo in Hong Kong. World of Accor showcases Accor's network of over 4000 hotels to members of the travel industry.