Accor
- 16 brands
- 92 countries
- 3,555 hotels
- budget to luxury
In the 1960s, the travel industry in France was booming, but many new hotels were concentrated only in major urban areas such as Paris. At the time, Paul Dubrule and Gérard Pélisson were both living in the United States, working for major computer firms. They went into business together, and in 1967, founded the SIEH (Société d'investissement et d'exploitation hôteliers) hotel group. Having seen the success of American lodging properties in suburban areas and along major highways, Dubrule and Pélisson opened their first American-style Novotel hotel outside of Lille in northern France. In 1974, they launched the ibis brand with the opening of the ibis Bordeaux. The following year, SIEH acquired the Courtepaille and Mercure brands, and in 1980 the Sofitel hotel brand, which then consisted of 43 hotels. Two years later, in 1982, the SIEH bought out Jacques Borel International, the then world-leading brand offering restaurant vouchers. In 1983, the Group, which had restaurant tickets and hotels, changed its name to the Accor Group. In 1984, Dubrule and Pélisson were elected "Managers of the Year" by France’s Le Nouvel Économiste magazine. In 2010, Accor SA sold 48 hotels for 367 million euros ($465 million) as part of a plan to liquidate some real estate holdings including 31 properties in France, 10 in Belgium, and 7 in Germany. The sale occurred over the next three years and cut debt by about 282 million euros.
The Accor Group continued to expand. In 1985, it launched Hotel Formule 1 brand, offering basic accommodation at low prices.[8]
Five years later, in 1990, it entered the North American market by acquiring Motel 6; and thereafter bought the Westin Hotels and Red Roof Inn chains, which it later resold to Starwood and a consortium of Citi’s Global Special Situations Group and Westbridge Hospitality Fund, L.P. respectively.
In the 1990s, it diversified to include Accor Casinos and in 2004,
- 92 countries
- 3,555 hotels
- budget to luxury
In the 1960s, the travel industry in France was booming, but many new hotels were concentrated only in major urban areas such as Paris. At the time, Paul Dubrule and Gérard Pélisson were both living in the United States, working for major computer firms. They went into business together, and in 1967, founded the SIEH (Société d'investissement et d'exploitation hôteliers) hotel group. Having seen the success of American lodging properties in suburban areas and along major highways, Dubrule and Pélisson opened their first American-style Novotel hotel outside of Lille in northern France. In 1974, they launched the ibis brand with the opening of the ibis Bordeaux. The following year, SIEH acquired the Courtepaille and Mercure brands, and in 1980 the Sofitel hotel brand, which then consisted of 43 hotels. Two years later, in 1982, the SIEH bought out Jacques Borel International, the then world-leading brand offering restaurant vouchers. In 1983, the Group, which had restaurant tickets and hotels, changed its name to the Accor Group. In 1984, Dubrule and Pélisson were elected "Managers of the Year" by France’s Le Nouvel Économiste magazine. In 2010, Accor SA sold 48 hotels for 367 million euros ($465 million) as part of a plan to liquidate some real estate holdings including 31 properties in France, 10 in Belgium, and 7 in Germany. The sale occurred over the next three years and cut debt by about 282 million euros.
The Accor Group continued to expand. In 1985, it launched Hotel Formule 1 brand, offering basic accommodation at low prices.[8]
Five years later, in 1990, it entered the North American market by acquiring Motel 6; and thereafter bought the Westin Hotels and Red Roof Inn chains, which it later resold to Starwood and a consortium of Citi’s Global Special Situations Group and Westbridge Hospitality Fund, L.P. respectively.
In the 1990s, it diversified to include Accor Casinos and in 2004,