Accor Aims to Double its Presence in Southern China

Accor is targeting the Pearl River Delta, aiming to double its hotel presence in China´s southern economic power-zone. At the start of 2006, Accor operated seven hotels in the Pearl River Delta –in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Dongguan.

By 2008 this is likely to increase to at least a dozen establishments, with major new Sofitel, Novotel and Ibis projects under development at that time.

Accor´s expansion in the Pearl River Delta is part of the company´s rapid development in China that will see the company grow its network from the current 34 hotels to over 50 in the next two years.

Last month, Accor´s fifth hotel in Hong Kong –Novotel Citygate- opened, and this will be followed in October by the launch of the highly strategic Novotel at the new Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou.

The new Baiyun International Airport is expected to rival Hong Kong´s Chek Lap Kok, with a capacity to handle up to 60 million passengers a year by 2010. The Novotel will be the only hotel at Baiyun International.