Accor drives premium brand growth

Accor, world leading hospitality group, is aiming for significant growth in its premium hotel portfolio across Europe and North Africa, with a robust pipeline across key brands including Pullman, Mövenpick and Swissôtel.

The group has signed 10 premium hotels across the region to date this year – six from Mövenpick, two from Pullman and two from Swissôtel – to take its premium pipeline to 46 properties totaling 7,360 rooms, all set to open by the end of 2027.

Accor’s premium growth will strengthen the group’s presence in the Mediterranean basin, with locations in historic cities and sun destinations alike. An opportunity to broaden its offering to European travelers, it will also see growth in Eastern European destinations like Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Albania and Montenegro.

Located in the world’s most sought-after destinations, Pullman Hotels & Resorts are Accor’s most premium offering. Consisting of 4-star and 5-star properties, Pullman appeals to the cosmopolitan traveler seeking the best. The brand’s European and North African portfolio will be bolstered by nine new openings, adding 1,589 new rooms to the portfolio, including resorts in Guadeloupe and the anticipated Pullman Okol Resort Golf & Spa in Bulgaria opening in winter 2023. Other openings will include Albania, Croatia, Germany and Montenegro, where the Pullman Kolasin Breza will open its doors later this year.

Mövenpick’s pipeline leads the charge, with 23 upcoming openings in the region, bolstered by its flexibility as a conversion brand. With Swiss heritage dating back to the 1940s, the brand offers a mix of contemporary city and resort hotels that focus on making the ordinary extraordinary. Its European and North African expansion will see a mix of resorts and hotels opening in countries including Algeria, Croatia, Switzerland, Italy and Azerbaijan with the highly anticipated Movenpick Winterpark Baku. The portfolio has grown in Eastern Europe, with Mövenpick BalaLand Resort in Hungary and Mövenpick Samarkand Hotel in Uzbekistan recently opening.

Swissôtel combines Swiss hospitality with intelligent design and local flair. Its growth is propelled in Eastern Europe with 14 properties totaling 2,334 rooms opening across destinations including Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Serbia, Moldova and Georgia, with the Swissôtel Tbilisi opening later this year.

Commenting on Accor development strength in the region, Philippe Bijaoui, Chief Development Officer, Europe & North Africa for Accor’s Economy, Midscale and Premium brands, added:

“Our recent restructure has given us a laser-eyed focus, and driving our premium brands across the region is a key part of that. Currently our premium portfolio makes up 16% of our overall pipeline and it continues to be a key area of focus for our development strategy where we see huge untapped potential. We’re also very confident in the ability of brands like Mövenpick, as an ideal conversion brand, to help increase our density in key locations.”