ACCOR CONTINUES TO INSPIRE AND ADVANCE THE CHINESE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WITH NEW ENERGY, COMMITMENT, AND COLLABORATION
Accor Greater
China is proud to unveil its 700th hotel, with the opening of Sofitel
Shanghai North Bund – a spectacular 25-story landmark and the newest flagship of the
prestigious Sofitel Hotels & Resorts brand. The milestone opening is
especially significant, given that 2024 is the 60th anniversary of
Sofitel – Accor’s
ambassador of modern French zest and art-de-vivre around the world – as well as the 60th anniversary of
diplomatic relations between China and France, and the China-France Year of
Culture and Tourism. Sofitel
destinations across Greater China, including the new Sofitel Shanghai North
Bund, are lighting up with French-Chinese celebrations and festivities throughout
the year.
L'Orchestre - the lobby lounge - at Sofitel
Shanghai North Bund
“Accor continues to shape and drive the Chinese hospitality industry forward, using creativity, commitment and collaboration to inspire ambitious thinking and realize new opportunities. The grand opening of Sofitel Shanghai North Bund is especially momentous for us, with so many reasons to celebrate,” said Gary Rosen, CEO, Accor Greater China. “First, we are incredibly proud of this stunning hotel that is a testament to our strong partnership with Radiance Group. Second, achieving our 700th hotel this year is a significant milestone, a sign that the challenges of the pandemic and its travel restrictions are well and truly behind us. Last, and certainly not least, it is meaningful that this hotel belongs to our French luxury brand, Sofitel, as we celebrate its 60th anniversary as well as the 60th anniversary of the French-Chinese diplomatic relationship. We are feeling so much gratitude in this astounding year, with even more exciting news to come.”
Hui Chinese Restaurant (left), and Luxury
Room (right) at Sofitel Shanghai North Bund
Sofitel has a
strong appeal among Chinese travelers, who appreciate its refined sense of
modern luxury and its masterful blending of Chinese and French cultures in a
beautiful and harmonious way. Sofitel Shanghai North Bund resides in the heart of the North Bund area, boasting 315 luxurious
rooms and refined suites that blend the fashionable style of Shanghai's North
Bund with the sophisticated elegance of France. The design scheme boldly
incorporates popular Chinese hues, such as green and bright yellow,
complemented by artistic linear patterns and art deco motifs to recreate the
fashionable elegance of Shanghai's golden era, while deftly weaving in chic Parisian
style. River-facing rooms offer panoramic views of Suzhou Creek, the
surrounding neighborhood of the 1933 Old Millfun cultural landmark, and the
stunning skyline of the North Bund. The hotel’s three outstanding restaurants –
L'Orchestre, Hui, and Lechanteur – are certain to become as popular with locals
as they will be with visiting guests.
Shaping
the industry with new energy
Over the past two years, Accor Greater
China has opened more than one hotel per week on average. Key openings have included Raffles at Galaxy Macau; the introduction of the Group’s
first lifestyle brand in Greater China with Mondrian Hong Kong, part of the
Ennismore collective in which Accor owns a majority share; the first Mövenpick
by Accor in Qingdao; and
reaching the 50th hotel milestones in Greater China for both Pullman and Novotel. The Silveri Hong Kong – MGallery has created a serene retreat on
Lantau Island, while AKI Hong Kong –
MGallery complements the
neighborhood buzz of Wan Chai with a stylish energy. Grand Mercure Chengdu
East offers the brand’s first hotel
in the world to introduce an extended stay offering, known as Grand Mercure Living; while the beloved Swissôtel Beijing Hong
Kong and Macau Center made its
grand return, reopening after three years of extensive renovations.
Raffles at Galaxy Macau
Mondrian Hong Kong
Adding to this exciting period of growth, Accor is proud to own and operate four of the world’s seven centennial global hospitality brands. These beloved brands have demonstrated their power and resilience to evolve for more than hundred years, understanding the changing needs and interests of their guests while continuing to expand their presence. Pullman (1867), Orient Express (1883), Raffles (1887), and Fairmont (1907) continue to thoughtfully pioneer new ways of delivering outstanding hospitality experiences while staying true to their character, their values and their world-class service. From Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, one of the world’s most famous hotels, to the spectacular new Raffles at Galaxy Macau, Accor Greater China continues to steward these iconic brands into a new era, with aspirational travel experiences that continue to capture the imagination of each generation of travelers, year after year.
Expanding
our brands with collaboration
For
close to 40 years, Accor has built a rock-solid network of trusted
relationships and strong partnerships with the major players in China’s
hospitality sector. Master Franchise agreements with these partners have been a
key to Accor’s exponential growth in the region. Volume-driven partners receive
exclusive rights to develop hotels under Accor’s premium, midscale, or economy brands,
while sharing their connections and local influence to rapidly develop those
hotels. Accor brings its international expertise and reputation of its brands
to the table, while further expanding its own connections and opportunities
with every new development.
Mövenpick by Accor Nanjing opened in May 2024 (left); JO&JOE will see multiple openings in China in 2024
(right)
Successful
partnerships include Accor’s alliance with Huazhu, which has led to the opening
of hundreds of economy and midscale hotels across China under the Novotel, Mercure and ibis brands. The master franchising agreement with
Sunmei Hotels Group is driving the development of Mövenpick by Accor smart hotels across China – the first destination opened in Qingdao in 2023,
and 2024 will bring four more openings in Nanjing, Xuzhou, Chengdu, and Suzhou.
A partnership between Accor, Ennismore, and Funyard Hotels & Resorts is
bringing the unconventional, uplifting, and eco-friendly JO&JOE lifestyle
brand to China’s most up-and-coming neighborhoods, several of which will debut
in the coming months.
Commitment to Chinese travelers
Within the next ten years, China’s travel and
tourism market will become the largest in the world. Accor is ready, having
built a strong reputation of trust and a solid network of diverse brands and
hotels across China that continues to grow in line with demand. Accor’s guest
loyalty program – ALL - Accor Live Limitless – promotes and attracts
inbound business from domestic to worldwide. Accor’s in-house Digital Factory
China team drives leading-edge, proprietary solutions specifically for Chinese consumers,
such as the Accor ALL China app that aligns with WeChat, and exclusive programs
in partnership with Trip.com and Alibaba’s Fliggy.
In 2024, Accor Greater China is continuing its ambitious pace of expansion with a total of 103 number of hotels expected to open by the end of the year, offering approximately 14,700 new rooms. Meanwhile, Accor Greater China’s pipeline of development projects also shows no sign of slowing. Accor signed nearly 150 new projects in 2023 alone and is on track to exceed that in 2024. In addition to Sofitel Shanghai North Bund, key openings in the 2024 include: Fairmont Xiamen; a total of five MGallery Hotel Collection destinations, Pullman in Taizhou and Chongqing, Grand Mercure in Wuhan and Changzhou, as well as Novotel in Nanjing and Wuxi, to name a few.
Looking forward to 2025, Accor will introduce two more Accor brands to Greater China. Adagio will open its first Chinese property, with a new serviced residence destination in the thriving market of Chengdu; while TRIBE NATION Guiyang South, will bring a fresh, new urban lifestyle hospitality experience to modern and Gen Z Chinese travelers.
“Here in Greater China, we will continue to pioneer the art of sustainable hospitality, connecting cultures with heartfelt care, thanks to the great dedication, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of our amazing team,” said Mr. Rosen. “The deep expertise of our people is what enables us to proceed thoughtfully and with agility, allowing us to provide an unrivaled level of care and service to our hotel owners, our partners, our team members, and our guests. This has driven the success we have enjoyed thus far and is pushing us forward with courage and optimism for the future opportunities we will pursue.”
