Accor Plots Strategy to Grow its Sofitel Brand in the U.S.

Accor North America, as part of an effort to grow its luxury Sofitel brand in the U.S., said it is seeking a long-term investor.

It also announced plans to sell its majority interest in six properties in six key gateway cities: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Washington. Accor said it would maintain an interest in the hotels through a joint venture relationship and the hotels would continue to operate under the Sofitel brand.

The remaining Sofitel hotels in Chicago, Houston, New York, Philadelphia and Montreal will retain their current ownership and management structure, Accor said.

“For our customers, vendors and employees, this partnership will be a seamless transition that will allow us to significantly accelerate the presence of Sofitel throughout North America,” said Georges Le Mener, Accor´s president and CEO.

To that end, Accor has appointed Colin McDonald, formerly of Four Seasons, to the position of vice president of development for Sofitel North America.

Sofitel expects to this year open hotels in China, Australia, New Zealand, the Fiji Islands, Vietnam, Brazil and Egypt.