Accor Secures China Expansion

　　Accor maintains its expansion momentum by securing 31 new contracts, adding 6,572 new hotel rooms in China since the start of 2012.

　　The hotels contracts include one Sofitel, nine Pullman, five Mei Jue (Grand Mercure), one Novotel and 15 Ibis projects.

　　According to Accor, the hotel brands that have experienced the strongest demand this year include The Pullman, Mei Jue and in the economy hotel segment, Ibis Hotels.

　　Accor Asia Pacific chairman and chief operating officer Michael Issenberg said the company has had a robust start to the year in Greater China.

　　“There is a sense of recalibration in the Chinese economy, resulting in the distribution of growth spreading to new economic centres and opening fresh opportunities for Accor,” Mr Issenberg said.

　　“Accor has anchored its presence in the key cities of China and deployed an extensive brand portfolio which has helped build its reputation, making the move beyond Tier 2 and into Tier 3 cities easier.”