Tag Archives: Accor

Accor is anchoring the upcoming Jewel of the Creek masterplan in Dubai, UAE, with a fully integrated urban Rixos resort focused on leisure, entertainment, sports and food & beverage. Earlier this year, Accor announced its strategic partnership with Dubai Developments to manage two properties, namely the Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan and Swissôtel and Swissôtel Living Al Murooj; The upcoming Jewel of the Creek will illustrate the third property signed in less than a year. “The recent development witnessed in the nearby Bur Dubai and Deira districts, with major facelifts and redevelopments initiatives, are expected to further elevate the surroundings and will be incredibly beneficial to existing hotels in the respective areas”, said Mark Willis, CEO of Accor Middle East & Africa. “We are the largest hotel operator in Dubai and our partnership with Dubai Developments highlights our common goal to strategically develop tourism and meet the demand of today’s travellers in Dubai”. “We see this project as the ‘Jewel’ of the Jewel of the Creek development”, said H.E EngEssa Al Maidoor, General Director Dubai Developments, “Once our elaborated and strategic improvement plan is complete, the project will offer all elements to bring a true Rixos product to the Dubai Creek area, which will appeal to a larger target audience and vastly distinguish itself from the competition”. “We are very pleased to introduce this new property into Dubai, as we increase the presence of the Rixos brand in the UAE” adds Willis. “This revolutionary project is expected to transform the Port Saeed area of Deira into a destination with a vibrant urban centre featuring residential, commercial, hospitality, sports and recreational components.”

Accor marked another milestone in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after signing a management agreement to expand its premium portfolio with the launch of the first the Swissôtel Living in the Kingdom. The group has partnered with Al Raya Estate Group, a pioneer in the field of real estate development in KSA, Kuwait and the UK to operate the new Swissôtel Living Jeddah. With an opening date scheduled for 2021, the project will be attached to (J View) – an exemplary mixed-use development comprised of hospitality, office, food and beverage and retail components. Fahad Al-Alloush, CEO of Al Raya Real Estate said “Our core business is to develop and manage real estate in the hospitality, residential and commercial sector. This Project (J View) is offering a high standard mix of all with its primary component being the serviced apartments. We decided to proceed with the Accor Group to introduce the Swissotel Living Brand into the market of Jeddah due to its leadership and expertise in extended-stay brands. We believe Vision 2030 is definitely boosting the transformation of the Saudi tourism and hospitality market, and we are looking forward to explore more opportunities along with Accor in the kingdom”. “This is a project we are extremely excited to launch. The stature of the project and its strategic location amid a plethora of demand generators around the central business district of Jeddah, will allow the Swissôtel Living Jeddah to actively attract a variety of demand segments”, said Mark Willis, CEO of Accor Middle East and Africa. “Our extensive research in the Saudi market highlights the growing demand from KSA travellers to stay in serviced apartments and benefit from the additional space with …

Accor is pioneering a new guest safety initiative ‘ALL Safe Officer’ that will redefine the hospitality experience in the Middle East and Africa during these unprecedented times.The ground-breaking programme, which is scheduled to be rolled out in the coming weeks, will see every hotel appoint a health and safety officer who will not only ensure cleaning and hygiene protocols are implemented to the highest standards, but will be available to handle guests questions and concerns.These specially trained officers are the face of Accor’s new ALL Safe Accor Programme – a set of rigorous measures designed to protect and reassure guests that are being implemented at its 300 properties region-wide. The initiative is bolstered by Accor’s strategic partnership with global insurance giant AXA which, as of July 2020, will be providing guests at its 5,000 properties worldwide with free medical support that includes consultations with medical professionals by phone or in the location where they are staying. “The safety and wellbeing of our guests is always our priority at Accor and we regularly review and enhance our procedures and services to adapt to new circumstances or as improved technology becomes available,” said Mark Willis, CEO, Accor Middle East and Africa. “The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to change the way we live, work and stay and as the largest hotel group in the Middle East and Africa, we are taking the lead in reinventing the hospitality experience, introducing dedicated ‘ALL Safe Officers’ and a rigorous programme of transparent measures that give guests peace of mind and put their health first, which is what they now value most,” he added.

Today more than half Accor branded hotels worldwide are closed, likely over two thirds in the coming weeks. The abrupt deterioration in the situation has prompted the Group to take drastic actions across its global operations; hence it has launched ‘ALL Heartist Fund’, a COVID-19 special financial program. In these unprecedented times, the Group stands more than ever by its employees, partners and communities, providing time, resources and access to its local and global network. Given the situation, the Group has decided to take aggressive, incremental actions. Collectively, these include: travel ban, hiring freeze, reduced schedules and /or furloughing for 75 per cent of global head office teams for Q2, resulting in a minimum €60m reduction in G&A for 2020; reviewed recurring investment plan for 2020 resulting in a €60m reduction in capital expenditures; the Group is further streamlining all other costs (e.g. sales, marketing, IT), in line with lower system wide revenues. In these unchartered territories, Accor’s Board of Directors has decided to complement management actions outlined above, by withdrawing its proposal for a 2019 dividend payment of c. €280m. After consulting with the Group’s main shareholders, JinJiang International, Qatar Investment Authority, Kingdom Holding Company and Harris Associates, Accor has decided to allocate 25 per cent of the planned dividend (€70m) to the launch of the ‘ALL Heartist Fund’, a COVID-19 special purpose vehicle. This fund will typically assist: Group’s 300,000 employees, pledging to pay for their COVID-19-related hospital expenses, for those who do not have social security or medical insurance; on a case by case basis, furloughed employees suffering great financial distress; on a case by case basis, individual partners facing financial difficulty This fund reflects the ambition …

Accor Middle East & Africa launches partnership with ‘She is Arab’, the first dedicated global speakers’ platform for Arab women designed to elevate female leadership development and to drive women’s economic empowerment and advancement in the workplace. As part of the partnership, a series of dialogues and discussions will roll out throughout the year in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the UAE, including panels, roundtables, fireside chats, in addition to training and coaching sessions focused on leadership skills, public speaking, personal branding and media interaction. These events will tackle topics including the changing nature of leadership, navigating through workplace culture, achieving work life balance, and advocating workplace policies to ensure equal opportunities for women. Sami Nasser, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East & Africa said, “The region today accounts for almost 30 per cent of the Group’s global RiiSE network of close to 30,000 employees from 4,900-plus hotels in 111 countries. Male and female talent from Accor’s hotels in Saudi Arabia and Egypt dominate RiiSE membership in the region. We are thrilled to join hands with ‘She Is Arab’, further cementing our commitment to continuous narrative around gender equality, with the aim of achieving actionable outcomes.” Speaking on the partnership, Noha Hefny, Co-founder, She is Arab said, “We consider this collaboration a testament to Accor’s commitment to social responsibility and its strong support for women-led startups. With the growing momentum and strength of the She is Arab network; we believe our synergies and common values reinforce our shared commitment to women empowerment and gender parity in the MENA region.”

Accor is set to introduce Novotel in Oman. It entered a new strategic partnership with Sundus Investments, to manage the 215-key Novotel Muscat Airport. The two-year-old property will undergo a modest revamp including décor and signage alterations to reflect Novotel’s signature contemporary-led brand experience, with further modifications including a reimagined lobby planned in the future. With some of the capital’s most ambitious mixed-use developments on the property’s doorstep and the new world-class Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) also nearby, the hotel will meet growing local and international demand for high-quality midscale accommodation. “Partnering with Sundus Investments to raise Accor’s first Novotel flag in Oman marks another significant step in our regional expansion strategy as we look to collaborate with leading developers in strategic locations where we can leverage our portfolio of dynamic brands, with Oman a priority market. Following this agreement we can showcase our takeover expertise and demonstrate the potential of our flagship midscale concept in a fast-growing destination, paving the way for more joint hospitality projects across the Sultanate,” said Mark Willis, CEO, Accor Middle East & Africa. Ahmed Al Ardhi, Chairman of Sundus Investments, said, “Our investment and development strategy is aligned to the Sultanate’s economic diversification plans as set out in Vision 2020 and Vision 2040, with tourism identified as a key growth sector, and as we consolidate our portfolio and embark on our next growth phase, we are partnering with leading international hotel operators such as Accor to ensure our hospitality projects set world-class standards.”

Accor has partnered with UAE entertainment giant, Bulldozer Group, to unlock more exclusive and dynamic experiences for members of its newly launched lifestyle loyalty programme, ALL – Accor Live Limitless. The collaboration builds on Accor’s ambition to become a lifestyle enabler, with Bulldozer Group famed for its portfolio of original nightlife venues and award-winning restaurants, including Gaia, Scalini and Shanghai Me as well as state-of-the-art productions and cutting-edge events through BASE Dubai that are setting regional and global trends. Following the deal between the two leading lifestyle brands, ALL – Accor Live Limitless members will be offered privileges at most Bulldozer Group venues and restaurants, including BASE Dubai, an immersive open-air super club that regularly plays host to A-list celebrities. Backstage passes and meet-and-greets with artists are also up for grabs as part of partnership benefits. Diamond members will also be entitled to receive special benefits at Bulldozer Group restaurants with the choice of premium dining experiences including Shanghai Me, Scalini and Gaia. The exclusive privileges don’t end there; during the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which takes place every November, Accor will host an exclusive F1 party and other exciting hospitality events for ALL members. “As an operator of dynamic nightlife venues and restaurants with a distinctive atmosphere, the Bulldozer Group is the perfect fit for Accor and what it has set out to achieve with ALL – Accor Live Limitless,” said Yigit Sezgin, Chief Commercial Officer, Accor Middle East & Africa. Evgeny Kuzin, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Bulldozer Group, said, “A limitless lifestyle is an important part of our core culture, an ideology that we promote and facilitate for all of our clients, and one of …

Accor recently opened Ibis Jeddah and Adagio Jeddah at Malik Road. A hub for business, leisure and socialising; the complex offers 178 hotel rooms at Ibis, 77 serviced apartments at Adagio and a raft of shared facilities including Hadiqat Laila a 24-hour café along with innovative meeting rooms, a gym, an extensive fitness and wellbeing centre an outdoor swimming pool with a 12-hour coffee shop. Mohammed Farajat, General Manager, Ibis Jeddah and Adagio Jeddah, said, “Our stunning new complex showcases two of Accor’s leading hospitality brands which are located in one of Jeddah’s most sought-after districts, offering guests multiple flexible accommodation options and a comfortable and cozy home-away-from-home environment during their stay with multilingual staff.” “We are proud to partner with Al Mohammadia Al Motahda Company to bring Ibis and Adagio brands for the first time to Jeddah. With close to 60 hotels in the Middle East & Africa under the Ibis family, the opening of Ibis Malik Road represents the strength of the brand within the economy segment, alongside Adagio, our apartment offering with functional spaces in prime city locations,” said Sami Nasser, Chief Operating Officer, Accor Middle East & Africa. Khalid Alturki, Deputy Executive Manager, Al Mohammadia Al Motahda Company, said, “As a fast-growing regional business and tourism hub, Jeddah requires world-class hospitality solutions for its transformation into a fast-growing local and international business and tourism platform. and Ibis and Adagio, the first two established brands operated by one of the world’s leading hotel groups – Accor”

Accor and Oman Air have announced a new partnership for members of their respective loyalty programmes, Le Club AccorHotels and Sindbad, with a range of benefits to make their travel experiences richer and more rewarding. This new partnership enables Le Club AccorHotels (LCAH) members to earn rewards points when flying with Oman Air by converting 1,500 Sindbad miles into 500 LCAH rewards points.  At the same time, it will enhance the experience of Le Club AccorHotels members as they will have the opportunity to redeem their rewards points into Sindbad miles to benefit from awards tickets and upgrades with Oman Air. Every 4,000 LCAH points equals to 1,500 Sindbad miles. This is an exciting partnership for frequent travellers who are members of both programmes because it allows them to purchase stays and discounts for their next trip at more than 3,500 hotels ranging from luxury to economy in joint destinations. They can also benefit from premium experiences and exclusive themed packages curated by Accor, which include access to live music concerts, food festivals and sporting venues such as Paris Saint-Germain VIP box and tickets. These assets will be available through the new Accor rebranded loyalty programme ALL – Accor Live Limitless to be launched in Q4 2019. The partnership allows elevated reward value for Accor’s loyalty customers throughout a network of more than 50 destinations serviced by Oman Air. Paul Starrs, Chief Commercial Officer at Oman Air, commented, “Our aim is to make Sindbad one of the most attractive and rewarding frequent flyer programmes. The addition of AccorHotels and Le Club AccorHotels will further enhance benefits offered to our members by allowing them even more options to earn and redeem miles …

Adding to its mid-scale range, Accor is bolstering its portfolio in the United Arab Emirates to 58 hotels with the opening of the Novotel Bur Dubai in Healthcare City. With an ideal location just a short distance from Dubai Creek and within walking distance of Dubai Healthcare City Metro Station, Novotel Bur Dubai will also offer guests a shuttle service to the city’s world-renowned shopping malls, beaches and tourist destinations. Novotel Bur Dubai features 219 rooms and suites, along with a wide range of wellness facilities and leisure activities, including a fully equipped fitness centre, an outdoor temperature-controlled swimming pool and massage treatments as well as carefully curated F&B options focusing on health and wellness. It will also be the only Novotel in the United Arab Emirates with an outdoor jacuzzi, which can be found on the private balcony of the Executive Suite. Novotel Bur Dubai offers specially designed rooms for guests with physical disabilities (People of Determination) as well as interconnecting family-friendly rooms. Special opening rates, starting from AED 250 per room, per night – including complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi – are available for stays from August 1 to 31, 2019.