Dubai: French hotel group Accor on Tuesday said that it aims to boost the number of rooms in the Middle East to over 30,000 by 2020.
The group currently has 66 operational hotels, with around 16,000 rooms and 34 under development, with approximately 9,000 rooms, (due to open in two to three years).
“From a global perspective, we see strong growth potential in the region given that there are on average only two rooms per 1000 inhabitants in the Middle East, compared to 10 and above in more matured markets. Across all our segments, from economy to luxury, we are seeing rising demand for the development of more hotels,” stated Accor chairman and chief executive, Sébastien Bazin.
Accor introduced three new brands in the region this year — Adagio serviced apartments, Majlis Grand Mercure and ibis Styles.
The group has 26 hotels in the UAE, with five in the pipeline, due to open between 2015 and 2017, including the Pullman Hotel in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Adagio Premium Dubai Al Barsha, ibis at the Dubai World Trade Centre District, ibis Styles Business Bay and ibis Styles Dragon Mart.
Meanwhile, Accor launched its digital strategy, which will include enhanced mobile applications, an extension of the tailored deal search engine and an expansion of the group’s loyalty programme.
Accor also expects to launch its Welcome Project, which allows guests to check-in online, across the region next year. The service has been piloted at the Novotel Al Barsha and ibis Al Barsha since July.
