Accor Revenue Up 1.2% In Q1

　　Accor, Courcouronnes, France, saw a 1.2% year-on-year revenue increase of €16.7 million (US$21.8 million) during the first quarter of 2012 to €1.37 billion (US$1.79 billion), up from €1.35 (US$1.77 billion) in 2011.

　　Expansion increased quarterly revenue by €11 million (US$14.4 million) and added 0.8% to reported growth. Expansion set a new record during the period, with the opening of 56 hotels for a total of 7,720 guestrooms, 90% of which under management and franchise agreements. 39% of expansion was in Asia Pacific and 24% in Europe.

　　Changes in the scope of consolidation due to the asset disposal strategy, which reduced reported growth by 5.2% and revenue by €71 million (US$92 million), of which €25 million (US$32 million) from the sale of Lenôtre.

　　Despite the uncertain economic environment in some regions, the Group remains confident for the second quarter, with business expected to follow the same trend as in the first quarter.

　　By segment

　　Each of the company’s segments saw revenue increases. Accor’s revenue from the upscale and midscale segment rose 1.4% while revenue from its economy hotels up 6.1%. Emerging markets remained extremely dynamic in the economy sector, with increases of 13.3% in the Asia Pacific region and 17.1% in Latin America.

　　Revenue from economy hotels in United States rose by 6.5%, and Motel 6 is actively pursuing its franchise expansion program with 46% of its hotels operated under this structure as of March 31, 2012, versus 41% a year earlier.