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Groundbreaking alliance creates a hotel giant in China

Accor and Huazhu Hotels Group (also known as China Lodging Group) today sealed an extensive and long-term alliance to create the most prominent and diversified hotel company in China, with more than 2000 hotels and the strongest pipeline in the country.

“This ground-breaking collaboration will leverage the strengths of Accor’s global brands with a leading player in Chinese hospitality,” said Sebastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of Accor. “Joining Huazhu’s unparalleled local expertise with our brands will create a hospitality powerhouse which will deliver unprecedented value to both groups and to our customers.”

Huazhu founder, chairman and CEO, Ji Qi, said the collaboration was an unequivalent alliance in the global hospitality industry. “With an extensive brand portfolio, and strong distribution and loyalty platforms, Accor and Huazhu share a lot of common values. By combining forces we can facilitate growth and attract more customers to the expanded network,” said Ji Qi.

This major alliance will rapidly accelerate both groups’ expansion in what is today one of the largest and fastest-growing domestic travel markets and the world’s largest outbound travel market. The objective of the alliance is to bring together the best of the two respective groups, combining Accor’s internationally recognised brands and powerful global distribution network with the extensive coverage, local reputation and strong development capability of Huazhu Hotels Group in China. Together the groups have more than 500 hotels in the pipeline in the region and the alliance is expected to further accelerate development to new levels and see faster expansion of Accor’s brands in China.

Huazhu is a leading and fast-growing hotel group in China, with a portfolio of over 1900 hotels. It is the 13th largest hotel group globally in 2013. Huazhu’s hotel brands cover the full spectrum of the market from Upscale (Joya, Manxin) to midscale (JI Hotels, Starway) and Economy (Hanting, Elan and Hi Inn), making the group a perfect match with Accor. Huazhu has the strongest pipeline of any hotel group in China to fuel future growth.

AN70-2-news-Huazhu Hotels Group 300x225Accor currently has 144 hotels in China across eight brands including Luxury/Upscale (Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure); Midscale (Novotel, Mercure) and Economy (ibis, ibis Styles). The group has been present in China for more than three decades and is the leading hotel group in Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle-East, as well as Australasia.

Pursuant to the transaction, Accor’s economy and midscale platform in China will become part of Huazhu. Under the arrangement, Huazhu will become Accor’s exclusive master-franchisee operating and developing in Mainland China, Mongolia and Taiwan for the economy (ibis, ibis Styles,) and midscale segments (Novotel and Mercure), as well as the upscale Grand Mercure brand.

Accor will continue to lead the ownership and development of all its luxury and other upscale brands in China, including Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery and The Sebel. Huazhu will become a minority shareholder in Accor’s luxury and upscale business in China (10 per cent) and will help support future development in the country, thanks to its in-depth relationships with key Chinese real estate investors.

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