AccorHotels has joined hands with LinkedIn to enrich its mobile app with an unprecedented new service for travellers. All AccorHotels guests can use this new feature ‘Business Check powered by LinkedIn’ to create and facilitate business opportunities. By allowing travellers to identify people in their professional network who are based in the city they are in and suggesting relevant profiles to connect with, this new feature enables professionals to stay connected on the move. Romain Roulleau, Senior Vice President for E-commerce & Digital Services at AccorHotels commented, “This partnership between AccorHotels and LinkedIn is a world first in the hospitality industry. It will enrich the services we already offer on our mobile app which is used before, during and after the stay, notably by business travellers, who represent 60% of the app’s users. This new feature creates business opportunities, and our app will therefore facilitate and foster seamless, instinctive business travel sharing, thus generating guest engagement and visibility for our hotels.” Joshua Graff VP Marketing Solutions EMEA at LinkedIn commented, “There are over 26 million business travellers on LinkedIn and by partnering with one of the world’s leading travel groups, these professionals can now be even more informed, connected and productive while on the go. We all like to get the most out of our business trips abroad and this new feature will make it even easier to connect with clients, prospects, suppliers and colleagues old and new.”
Read More »AccorHotels offers up to 40% off
AccorHotels has come back with its Super Sale, offering up to 40 per cent off plus free breakfast at more than 2,800 hotels and resorts across five continents – including over 500 in Asia Pacific. Guests can enjoy 40 per cent off plus free breakfast for members of Accor Plus or 30 per cent off plus free breakfast for Le Club AccorHotels’ members and the general public. From cycling through South America to relaxing on the beaches of Thailand or Indonesia or touring the majestic cities of Europe to enjoying a scenic drive along the coast of Australia, the AccorHotels Super Sale promises more value for holiday. Bookings must be made directly at www.accorhotels.com and with rates from as little as $20 per room night, there is almost no excuse not to book yourself a getaway. The sale applies to selected hotels across AccorHotels’ Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure, The Sebel, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, ibis, ibis styles and ibis budget hotels worldwide. Bookings can be made online from 10 to 21 October for members of Accor Plus and Le Club AccorHotels’ members from 12 to 21 October. The general public can book from 17 to 21 October, for stays from 1 December 2016 to 30 April 2017.
Read More »AccorHotels’ first ibis Styles opens in India
AccorHotels has launched India’s first ibis Styles in North Goa. The 197-room ibis Styles Goa Calangute is conveniently located within walking distance from Tivai Beach, a short drive from Calangute and Candolim beaches and minutes away from popular entertainment and night spots. Jean-Michel Cassé, Senior Vice President, Operations, AccorHotels India, said, “The opening of the ibis Styles Goa Calangute marks a strategic growth milestone for the group as we now have 43 hotels operating across a well-rounded portfolio of ten distinct brands in the country. Not only are we excited to introduce the ibis Styles brand to our guests in India, but we are also proud to share that we are now the largest hotel operator in Goa with a growing collection of midscale and in-demand economy brands presence.” Speaking on the opening, Nikheel Shirodkar, General Manager, ibis Styles Goa Calangute, said, “ibis Styles Goa Calangute offers a resort feel experience at an affordable price, making it the perfect destination for family vacations, leisure retreats or corporate team bonding sessions. Its bright and vibrant colours are seen throughout the hotel from its unique blend of architectural design. We look forward to extending the ibis Styles’ signature service to guests travelling to Goa.” A non-standardised economy and design brand, ibis Styles offers an all-inclusive package, with breakfast and internet access. Situated in the heart of cities and in other major centres of activity around the world, each ibis Styles has its own distinct personality that resonates a colourful and bright brand spirit which are hip and trendy. The hotel is deeply influenced by Goa’s Portuguese heritage and charm that are infused with a contemporary twist. All guest rooms are pool facing …
Read More »178-room ibis Hyderabad HITEC City opens
AccorHotels and InterGlobe Hotels have announced the opening of ibis Hyderabad HITEC City, marking the debut of the in-demand economy brand in the city. Strategically located in the heart of HITEC City, the hotel is easily accessible from Hyderabad International Convention Centre managed by AccorHotels. With 178 rooms, the hotel boasts of a contemporary design that offers unparalleled comfort and convenience with a range of in-room amenities at an affordable price. Speaking at the hotel’s launch, J.B. Singh, President & CEO, InterGlobe Hotels, said, “The Pearl City, is a perfect blend of leisure and business travel. Known for its heritage, history, and iconic tourist attractions, Hyderabad has always been a destination of choice for travellers. More recently the city has also emerged as a popular MICE destination, and has seen several domestic, and international business meetings and conferences. Along with AccorHotels, we are very happy to bring ibis to Hyderabad HITEC City which is the ideal brand and offering for the frequent Hyderabad business traveller as well as the leisure traveller.”
Read More »AccorHotels partners with Australia India Travel & Tourism Council
Australian hotel operator, AccorHotels has signed an agreement with the Australia India Travel & Tourism Council (AITTC) to further strengthen the opportunities for promoting tourism between Australia and India. As part of the partnership, AITTC will endorse AccorHotels market-leading Optimum Service Standards program for Indian visitation. AITTC will facilitate a service training program to help AccorHotels staff better understand cultural practices and learn basic greetings so they can respectfully serve these guests. Training is expected to commence in Sydney and Brisbane this August and AITTC will issue hotels with a certificate of accreditation once completed. In addition, AITTC and AccorHotels will be working together on promoting both inbound tourism from India as well as outbound opportunities to India. “Our goal is to see growth in bilateral tourism and this partnership with AccorHotels, which has strong presence in both India and Australia, so it will be win-win for both organisations,” says Sandip Hor, Chairman of AITTC. Chief Operating Officer, AccorHotels Pacific, Simon McGrath said, “We have been very fortunate to develop a great relationship with the Australia India Travel & Tourism Council, and look forward to working with them to better equip our hotels with the skills and knowledge to welcome visitors from India. AccorHotels launched its Optimum Service Standards for Indian visitation program to better cater to the specific cultural needs and growing numbers of Indian travellers to Australia and New Zealand. Accredited hotels have adopted services to meet the needs of this emerging travel market including the translation of hotel welcome kits, menus and business cards, Indian meals in the restaurant, Indian adaptor plugs, TV channels and newspapers to make guests travelling from India feel at home.
Read More »AccorHotels & Amadeus renew global distribution agreement
Amadeus has renewed its distribution agreement with AccorHotels for another three years to ensure that the hotel’s full inventory is made available to Amadeus-connected travel agencies and travellers worldwide. AccorHotels covers all market segments, from economy to luxury accommodation, and Amadeus currently exclusively distributes ibis Budget hotels, AccorHotels’ benchmark budget brand and a European leader in its category. Comfortable, no frills accommodation is increasingly relevant for both leisure and business travellers, and Amadeus currently distributes 150 Ibis Budget properties, with more soon to become available.“The industry is dramatically changing due to the growth of large online players, so hoteliers now more than ever need to retain ownership over their distribution strategy. In response to this, we have seen an increase in demand from hoteliers to distribute their hotel inventory through the GDS channel,” says Peter Waters, Director, Hotel Distribution at Amadeus. “We are delighted to renew the distribution agreement with AccorHotels and look forward to supporting them meet the needs of both business and leisure travellers.”
Read More »AccorHotels partners with AITTC
AccorHotels has signed an agreement with the Australia India Travel & Tourism Council (AITTC) to further strengthen the opportunities for promoting tourism between Australia and India. As part of the new partnership, AITTC will endorse AccorHotels market-leading Optimum Service Standards program for Indian visitation. AITTC will facilitate a service training program to help AccorHotels staff better understand cultural practices and learn basic greetings so they can respectfully serve these guests. Training is expected to commence in Sydney and Brisbane this August and AITTC will issue hotels with a certificate of accreditation once completed. AccorHotels launched its Optimum Service Standards for Indian visitation program to better cater to the specific cultural needs and growing numbers of Indian travellers to Australia and New Zealand. Accredited hotels have adopted services to meet the needs of this emerging travel market including the translation of hotel welcome kits, menus and business cards, Indian meals in the restaurant, Indian adaptor plugs, TV channels and newspapers to make guests travelling from India feel at home. In addition, AITTC and AccorHotels will be working together on promoting both inbound tourism from India as well as outbound opportunities to India.
Read More »AccorHotels acquires FRHI
AccorHotels Group officially announced the acquisition of FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI) and its three prestigious luxury hotel brands: Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel. Following the approval of shareholders at the General Shareholders Meeting on July 12, 2016, the transaction with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) of Saudi Arabia provided $840 million (€768 million) cash payment and the issuance of 46.7 million AccorHotels shares in consideration for the contributed FRHI shares. Joining AccorHotels’ global network is a portfolio of globally admired brands, which includes management of many of the world’s most iconic and historic hotels located in key strategic cities around the world, including: The Savoy in London, Raffles Singapore, Fairmont San Francisco, New York’s The Plaza, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City, and Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris. The transaction gives QIA and KHC respective stakes of 10.4% and 5.8% in Accor’s share capital. Ali Bouzarif and Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo from QIA and Sarmad Zok from KHC will now join AccorHotels’ Board of Directors. AccorHotels plans to generate approximately €65 million in revenue and cost synergies thanks to the combination of brands, the maximization of hotel earnings, the increased efficiency of marketing, sales and distribution channel initiatives, and the optimization of support costs. Significant enhancements will also be made in terms of customer data, thanks to the integration of FRHI’s customer base that includes three million loyalty members, of which 75 percent are in North America.This addition of three remarkable brands instantly positions AccorHotels as a leading player in the global luxury hotel market, increases long term growth potential and profitability, and significantly expands the company’s footprint in North America, the world’s largest and most …
Read More »Accor’s 28-room Varun Beach Bheemili Resort opens
Varun Beach Bheemili Resort managed by AccorHotels has opened doors for public. Located 25 kilometres northeast of Visakhapatnam, the resort has 28 rooms overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The room rate start from Rs. 5850. The resort is within walking distance to Bheemili beach. Bheemili is known for its rich history and traces of Buddhism which offers a culturally rich experience to the tourists. Bheemili Resort is also well connected to the Varun Beach by beautiful marine drives and is within relative proximity to the city’s airport and railway station (42 kilometres and 33 kilometres respectively). For outdoor team building activities or social events the resort offers five acres of outdoor space, perfect for any corporate weekend retreats. Jean-Michel Cassé, Senior Vice President, Operations, AccorHotels India says, “India is a priority market for us and one in which we are seeing solid growth momentum. By the end of this year, we expect to have a strong presence with a network of 45 hotels in the country. The state of Andhra Pradesh is integral to our development strategy and we are committed to opening more world class hotels here. The Varun Beach Bheemili Resort is our second hotel alongside the 225-room Novotel Visakhapatnam and we have plans to open another Novotel with a convention centre in Vijayawada sometime later.” Madhav Bellamkonda, General Manager, Varun Beach Bheemili Resort managed by AccorHotels & Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach says, “Varun Beach Bheemili Resort infuses local architectural elements with the warmth of Novotel hospitality, elegance and simplicity focused on the needs of the leisure or business traveller. Our large sea-facing rooms with balconies are the closest to a cruise experience on land made even more …
Read More »Accor and Cyberabad Convention Centre renew partnership
AccorHotels and Cyberabad Convention Centre, a joint venture between Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) and Emaar Properties PJSC, Dubai, announced the renewal of their agreement for the management of the Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC). This follows the completion of a 10-year commitment to manage and operate the 287-room hotel and the 15-acre convention facility in Hyderabad. Both facilities operate in a complementary yet distinctive manner, guided by Novotel’s brand promise of meeting the needs of everyone, anywhere and anytime. Cyberabad Convention Centre and AccorHotels also announced a refurbishment programme for the hotel and the convention centre to build on the complex’s current position as South Asia’s most recognizable and modern convention facility.
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