Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire Opens Through Conversion as Sofitel's New Flagship in West Africa
Paris - March 3, 2014 - Sofitel Luxury Hotels is pleased to announce the launch of its new flagship in West Africa, the iconic Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire. Located in the chic Cocody district and blending French luxury with African culture, Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire is a legendary oasis in perpetual motion. Overlooking the Ebrie lagoon and the Plateau, this 5-star hotel rises majestically over an idyllic setting of water and flora. Emblematic across the entire African continent, the Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire also reinforces the Accor Group's presence in the region, and is geared towards a business clientele.
This prestigious Ivory Coast property was built by architect Moshe Mayer in 1963, and beautifully revamped in 2011. Sofitel signed a management contract for this property in July 2012 and 18 months later, following a transitional period of adaptation to bring the hotel in line with brand standards, the Sofitel Hotel Ivoire opened in early 2014.
"Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire is at the crossroad of different cultures, and reflects the city in which it is located: oriented toward the future, where modernity is in harmony with the beauty of the surrounding nature," said Jean-Jacques Dessors, COO Mediterranean, Middle East, Africa. "This stunning hotel, a tribute to Africa, has been designed to reflect this unique experience, offering a blend of French luxury with Ivory Coast heritage."
Today, the Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire offers 209 guestrooms, including two presidential suites and 40 junior suites. Each one is inspired by Ivory Coast culture combined with a French touch, and with warm tones that give a special charm to every room. Sophisticated contemporary furniture in the rooms highlights Sofitel's passion for detail.
The hotel's lobby is more than just a reception - it's a space that is alive with a combination of materials, colors and styles that plunges you into the heart of Abidjan. The entire ground floor has been transformed to create and optimize interconnected living spaces. The feeling of fluidity and light are ubiquitous.
Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire also features two restaurants. The panoramic Toit d'Abidjan is located on the 23rd floor and offers a 180° view of Abidjan and the Ebrie Lagoon. Chef Pascal Favier honors the spirit of French cuisine and the subtle flavors of Africa, offering an authentic experience of finest taste, perfect for business dinners or romantic evenings. At La Gourmandise, the poetry of Africa meets the flavors of French cuisine, at the heart of the hotel.
The hotel also has four modern conference rooms fitted with high-tech audiovisual equipment and the nearby Abidjan Conference Center hosts a range of events and offers a range of high-quality services to ensure successful meetings as well as an auditorium seating 1,650 people.
Starting in early 2015, a second wave of renovations is scheduled to create 217 guestrooms, including 84 suites and 31 service apartments, a Millesime Club, a 1,200 m2 So SPA, two restaurants and a lounge bar, a cinema, nine meeting rooms, a business center and ten boutiques, as well as a casino.
About Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance
Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30,000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today's more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French "art de vivre".
Sofitel Legend and & Sofitel So are two labels that come to enrich Sofitel Luxury hotels.
Sofitel Legend hotels are iconic and mythical; they are often centuries-old listed heritage buildings: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam and Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan, Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena.
Sofitel So hotels are new " boutique hotels " characterized by a stylish focus on contemporary design by famous architects and/or embellished by international celebrities from the world of fashion, design or art: Sofitel So Mauritius Bel Ombre, Sofitel So Bangkok and Sofitel So Singapore (2014).
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
