Accor

Accor S.A. is a French multinational hospitality company that owns, manages and franchises hotels, resorts and vacation properties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the largest hospitality company in Europe, and the sixth largest hospitality company worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Accor operates 5,700 locations in over 110 countries. Its total capacity is approximately 850,000 rooms (end 2025).<ref name = "accor whoweare"/> It owns and operates more than 40 hospitality brands: Luxury (Orient Express, Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel), premium (Pullman, Swissôtel), midscale (Novotel, Mercure, Adagio), and economy (ibis, hotelF1). Accor also owns companies specialized in digital hospitality and event organization, such as onefinestay, D-Edge, ResDiary, John Paul, Potel & Chabot and Wojo.<ref name="accor whoweare"/>

The company is headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, and is a constituent of the CAC Next 20 index on the Paris stock exchange.<ref name = "forbes"/>

History

File:Sequana Accorhotels.jpg

Tour Sequana, the headquarters of Accor in Issy-les-Moulineaux

From Novotel to Accor

In 1967, Paul Dubrule and Gérard Pélisson founded the hospitality group Société d'investissement et d'exploitation hôteliers (SIEH) and opened the first Novotel hotel outside Lille in northern France.<ref name="berghahn 978184545911">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1974, the first Ibis hotel was launched in Bordeaux, France. Ibis was then considered a light version of Novotel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1975, Novotel-SIEH acquired the restaurant brand Courtepaille and the Mercure hotels. In 1980, Novotel-SIEH acquired the Sofitel hotels (43 hotels).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1981, Novotel-SIEH entered the Asian market with the opening of a Novotel in Singapore.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

1983: Birth of Accor

In 1983, Novotel-SIEH acquired and merged with the group Jacques Borel International to create the Accor group, which was introduced to the Paris stock exchange the same year.<ref name="berghahn 978184545911" /> Accor is based on the word "Accord" meaning "agreement" in French.<ref name="nytimes 1990/07/24">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1984, Accor bought the Quiberon thalassotherapy center, which became the first of the Thalasso Sea & Spa brand,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and acquired the fine catering company Lenôtre the following year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1985, the firm launched Formule 1, a brand of low-cost hotels. The buildings themselves were modular blocks manufactured in factories and assembled onsite to minimise costs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1990, the firm acquired the economy lodging company Motel 6 (536 motels in the United States).<ref name="nytimes 1990/07/24"/> In 1991, it acquired the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, which owned Pullman Hotels and Resorts, Altea, and Europcar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Accor also launched another economy hotel, Etap Hotel.<ref name="lesechos 441007">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1994, it merged the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits with Carlson Travel Network to create Carlson Wagonlit Travel (now CWT).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

"Asset-light" realignment

In the mid-90s, Accor shifted its interest towards luxury and premium brands, and moved towards an asset-light model to focus on brand and product management, rather than property management. Economy and midscale brands remained the group's cash cow and enabled it to invest in less profitable but strategic upscale and luxury brands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1997, the firm acquired the casino company SPIC, which became Accor Casino.<ref name="lesechos 441007"/> In 1999, it acquired the US-based economy lodging company Red Roof Inn (322 hotels), and announced the creation of Accor Economy Lodging to bring Motel 6 and Red Roof Inn under one roof.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Along with Colony Capital, it acquired the hotel brands Libertel and Demeure (40 properties in Europe).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Accor settled in the United Kingdom with the opening of a Sofitel in the previous Cox & Co bank in Central London.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Accor launched the 3-star hotel brand SuiteHotel in 1999.<ref>Accor lanza la marca "Suitehotel" para el mercado europeo</ref> In 2000, Accor took full control of Century International Hotels and Zenith Hotels International in Asia, bringing its number of hotels to 200 in the Asia-Pacific zone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Sofitel Philadelphia (former Philadelphia Stock Exchange Building) was inaugurated, the first Sofitel to open in the US in a decade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Accor bought 20% of the Polish hotel company Orbis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2002, Accor settled in Mexico.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2004, Accor bought a 28.9% stake in the French all-inclusive holidays' company Club Méditerranée.<ref name="Clark">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2005, Gilles Pélisson, nephew of Accor's co-founder Gérard Pélisson, became chairman and CEO.<ref name="economist 2010/11/11">Template:Cite web</ref> The investment firm Colony Capital invested 1 billion euros in Accor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The firm sold its shares of Club Med in 2006<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Red Roof Inn in 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

New multi-brand strategy

In 2007, Accor launched the serviced-apartments brand Adagio in a 50/50 venture with Pierre & Vacances,<ref name="hotelnewsnow 24253">Template:Cite web</ref> relaunched Pullman as a premium hotel brand,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Australian All Seasons as a global midscale hotel brand. In 2008, it launched the MGallery collection of upscale "personality" hotels.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In November 2010, Gilles Pélisson was replaced by Denis Hennequin as the head of Accor.<ref name="economist 2010/11/11"/> Accor split its hotel activities from its voucher activities, Accor Services (which became Edenred and was listed on the stock exchange).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Suitehotel was merged with Novotel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2011, Accor revamped the Ibis brand by creating ibis Styles (formerly All Seasons) and ibis budget (formerly Etap Hotel).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The group sold the fine catering group Lenôtre,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. In 2012, the group launched the regional premium brand Grand Mercure in China (MeiJue),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and sold Motel 6.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2013, Accor redefined its group business model on two core competencies: hotel operator and brand franchisor (HotelServices), and hotel owner and investor (HotelInvest).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The group acquired the premier apartment hotel brand The Sebel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In August 2013, Sébastien Bazin became chairman and CEO of Accor.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> He introduced a new economic model around two poles: HotelServices, which operates and franchises hotels, and HotelInvest, which owns hotels and leads investments.<ref>Template:In lang Jean-Bernard Litzler, Sébastien Bazin divise Accor en deux pour mieux le réveiller, Lefigaro.fr, 27 November 2013</ref>

In 2014, Accor bought a 35% share in Mama Shelter (5 hotels) whose chief designer is Philippe Starck,<ref name="hotelnewsnow 24253"/> and signed a strategic alliance with the China Lodging Group (Huazhu Hotels Group - 1900 hotels) to develop its hotel brands in China.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Lifestyle hospitality

In June 2015, Accor changed its name to AccorHotels <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and acquired FRHI Hotels & Resorts (Fairmont, Raffles, Swissôtel).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, AccorHotels acquired John Paul (concierge and loyalty service),<ref name="acquisition johnpaul">Template:Cite web</ref> onefinestay (short-term vacation rentals),<ref name="acquisition onefinestay">Template:Cite web</ref> 30% of 25hours Hotels (Germany), and 30% of Oasis (accommodations provider).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The new hotel brand Jo&Joe was launched,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a strategic alliance was signed with Banyan Tree,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and HotelInvest was spun off.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, AccorHotels acquired Gekko (B2B hotel service),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> VeryChic (private sales for hotel deals),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and merged Squarebreak and Travel Keys into onefinestay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> AccorHotels acquired 50% of the brand Orient Express to relaunch it as a luxury hotel brand,<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> Potel & Chabot (catering),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Noctis (event organization, renamed Paris Society).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, AccorHotels sold 55% of HotelInvest for €4.4 billion and renaming it AccorInvest<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and launched a tender offer to take full control of Orbis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It acquired the Mantra Group (134 hotels under the brands Mantra, Peppers, Breakfree, Art Series),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (84 hotels in 27 countries),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and ResDiary (restaurant reservation and table management).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> AccorHotels partnered with Katara Hospitality to set up a $1-billion Africa-focused investment fund.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> China Lodging Group bought 4.5% of AccorHotels.<ref>China Lodging buys 4.5% stake in AccorHotels, RevPAR up by 13.7% in Q1, Chinatravelnews.com, 22 May 2018</ref>

In 2019, the 21c Museum Hotels acquired the previous year were added to the MGallery collection.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its digital marketing companies for hotels (Availpro, Fastbooking) were merged into D-Edge Hospitality Solutions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The group took full control of Orbis (Its subsidiary AccorInvest acquired 98.6% shares of Orbis).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Accor launched the new midscale hotel brand Tribe (born under the Mantra Group Management).<ref name="launch tribe">Template:Cite web</ref> After buying 50% of the SBE Entertainment Group (owner of Mondrian Hotels) in October 2018, Accor and SBE jointly launched the luxury hotel brand The House of Originals,<ref name="launch houseoriginals">Template:Cite web</ref> and the premium hotel brand Hyde in Australia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In September 2019, Accor launched its first environment-conscious hotel brand, greet, with the first hotel opened in April that year in Beaune.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 3 December 2019, Accor repositioned its brand as ALL - Accor Live Limitless. The update merged Accor and its loyalty offering Le Club into one unified brand, ALL.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Accor created CEDA (Coronavirus Emergency Desk Accor), a platform centralizing needs and providing accommodation solutions in France for front-line medical staff and vulnerable populations.<ref>Template:In lang CEDA Online : la solution HCorpo d'Accor pour le personnel soignant, Tourmag.com, 17 April 2020</ref> The group allocated 70 million euros to launch the ALL Heartist Fund which was designed to assist employees and individual partners experiencing great financial difficulties.<ref>Template:In lang Mathilde Visseyrias, Coronavirus: Accor crée un fonds de soutien avec ses dividendes, Lefigaro.fr, 2 February 2020</ref> Accor and the certification agency Bureau Veritas launched a label guaranteeing high safety and cleanliness measures in the group's hotels and restaurants,<ref>Accor launches the Cleanliness & Prevention ALLSAFE label, Hospitalitynet.org, 18 May 2020</ref> and signed a strategic partnership with the insurance company Axa to provide medical assistance to the guests of its hotels worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2020, Accor opened more than 200 new hotels including its flagship Raffles Bali.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 24 November 2020, it announced that it is taking full ownership of SBE's Hotel assets (except Hudson Hotel in New York and Delano in Miami) as part of its simplification and asset-light strategy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It introduced Mövenpick Living as an extension of Mövenpick brand for extended stay segment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The company announced its strategic plan to focus on lifestyle hospitality.<ref>Cameron Sperance, Accor’s European Hotel Exposure Drives Staggering $2.4 Billion 2020 Loss, Skift.com, 24 February 2021</ref> In 2021, Accor introduced the SPAC Accor Acquisition Company (AAC) on the Paris stock exchange, raising 300 million euros to lead investments in hotel-related businesses,<ref>Accor Announces Its Intention To Sponsor A Corporate SPAC Targeting Activities Adjacent To Its Core Hotel Business, Hospitalitynet.org, 20 May 2021</ref> sold a 1.5% share in the Chinese hotel management company Huazhu,<ref>Hotels group Accor sells 1.5% stake in Huazhu Group for 239 mln euros, Nasdaq.com, 19 February 2021</ref> and invested in the Indian tech hospitality company Treebo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In October 2021, Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy had signed an agreement with Accor to manage World Cup fan accommodation during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. According to the agreement Accor will provide staff to manage and operate more than 60,000 rooms in apartments and villas.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The same month, Accor and Ennismore finalized their joint-venture of 14 hotel brands. Accor was the majority stakeholder (then sold 10.8% to a consortium of Qatari investors<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>), and the founder of Ennismore Sharan Pasricha held a minority stake.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Accor and the Italian hotel group Arsenale announced the launch of the Orient Express La Dolce Vita luxury trains.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the groups started to test urban autonomous cars with Citroën and JCDecaux.<ref>Linda Fox, Accor partners with Citroen on autonomous urban future, Phocuswire.com, 29 September 2021</ref>

In 2022, Accor bought Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 from PCFC Hotels.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2023, Accor restructured into two distinct business units: "Economy, Midscale & Premium" unit (Ibis, Novotel, Mercure, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Pullman, TRIBE from October 2023) and the "Luxury & Lifestyle" organized in four brand collections (Raffles & Orient Express, Fairmont, Sofitel & MGallery, Ennismore).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The group announced the launch of Orient Express Silenseas, a luxury cruise built with Chantiers de l'Atlantique and planned for delivery March 2026.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The construction of the first ship started in March 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June 2024, Accor and LVMH signed a partnership to jointly develop the luxury travel brand Orient Express.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2025, Accor's booking and loyalty platform reached 100 million members.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Accor and InterGlobe (IndiGo's parent company) agreed to grow their common hotel platform from 70 to 300 by 2030, and jointly invested in Treebo, making the alliance the third hotel operator in India.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The group started a partnership with the World Monuments Fund (WMF) to safeguard 4 cultural heritage sites listed in the 2025 World Monuments Watch.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Activities

Accor S.A. is a French multinational hospitality company that owns, manages and franchises hotels, resorts and vacation properties. It is the largest hospitality company in Europe, and the sixth largest hospitality company worldwide.

Brands

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Other activities

Brand	Description	Since
D-Edge Hospitality Solutions	SaaS company for hotels	2015
John Paul	White label concierge services, affinity marketing and event management	2016<ref name="acquisition johnpaul"/>
onefinestay	Mobile application for short-term rentals of upscale apartments and houses	2016<ref name="acquisition onefinestay"/>
Gekko	B2B hotel distribution platform	2017
Mamaworks	Coworking spaces in France and Luxembourg	2017
Paris Society	Organization of events and entertainment	2017
Potel & Chabot	Upscale catering	2017
Verychic	Private sales of hotels and luxury stays	2017
Adoria	Platform for the catering industry to optimize supply management	2018
Astore	Hotel/restaurant purchase platform	2018
ResDiary	Reservation and management of restaurant tables	2018
Wojo	Coworking spaces (within the group's hotels)	2018
Thalassa	Spa	1984

Financial results

Financial results <ref name="accor-finance">Template:Cite web</ref>

Year	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Revenue	5,948	6,100	5,649	5,425	5,454	5,581	1,646	1,937	3,610	4,049	1,621	2,204	4,224	5,056	5,606
Net income	3600	27	(599)	126	223	244	265	441	2,233	464	(1,988)	85	392	633	610

Shareholders

Jinjiang International	12.8%
Qatar Investment Authority	8.5%
Kingdom Holding Co. (Investment Management)	6.2%
Parvus Asset Management	6.8%
Pzena Investment Management	7.2%
Floating	68.5%

Management

Board of directors as of January 2022:

• Sébastien Bazin (chairman and CEO since 2013)<ref name=":0" />
• Iris Knobloch (vice-chairman since 2016)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Asma Abdulrahman Al-Khulaifi (director)<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ugo Arzani (director)<ref name=":2" />
• Hélène Auriol Potier (independent director)<ref name=":2" />
• Iliane Dumas (director representing employees)
• Qiong'Er Jiang (director)<ref name=":2" />
• Anne-Laure Kiechel (independent director since May 2023)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Bruno Pavlovsky (independent director)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Nicolas Sarkozy (independent director since 2017)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Christine Serre (director representing employees)
• Isabelle Simon (independent director)
• Samad Zok (director)

Animal welfare

In 2016, Accor, in partnership with Humane Society International,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> committed to sourcing only cage-free or free-range eggs in its restaurants, with a goal of full implementation by the end of 2021 in regions with developed supply chains (such as Europe, the Pacific, and North America), and by 2025 in markets where supply chains were still emerging. In 2025, the company released a report detailing progress through the end of 2024, acknowledging efforts made but indicating that the targets—particularly in South and Southeast Asia—were unlikely to be met, resulting in a failure to fully achieve its pledge.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sustainability

Accor is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> To do so it has split its emissions into three scopes with separate targets for each; scope 1 (direct emissions), scope 2 (indirect emissions related to electricity purchases) and scope 3 (indirect emissions).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The goals for each scope start with a 25% reduction in scopes 1 and 2 by 2025 (from baseline figures in 2019). This will then climb to 46% by 2030 and a target of 28% reduction in scope 3 emissions over the same timeframe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The plan was validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, Accor issued its first sustainability-linked bonds for an amount of 700 million euros.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2024 Accor partnered with Qualmark to target gold certification for sustainable tourism for its New Zealand hotels.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In March of the same year, Accor announced water "stewardship" initiatives across its properties and operations including a reduction in water footprint in its food and beverages services and incentives for guests to opt out of their rooms being cleaned daily.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Criticism

Accor has faced criticism for its decision to continue operating in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While many international hotel chains suspended or ceased operations, Accor's CEO justified the company's presence by citing the responsibility to support employees and humanitarian efforts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Critics argue that by maintaining business activities in Russia, Accor indirectly supports the local economy, contradicting global efforts to impose economic pressure on the country. The company was subsequently listed in the Leave Russia database for its continued presence in the Russian market.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• Accor Arena, venue in Paris
• Accor Stadium, venue in Sydney

External links

• Template:Official website
• Company data on Forbes