Sébastien Bazin spoke of the enormous potential of the Indian market, but also of the difficulties in exploiting it, when presenting the results for the last quarter and for 2023. " We have around sixty hotels in India, compared with nearly 700 in China, even though we began expanding there around the same time some forty years ago." explained the CEO of the French group. Despite the administrative hurdles that are slowing down development, the country still occupies " an important place "Sébastien Bazin is confident that the Group will be able to make a significant contribution to its global strategy, with around thirty new establishments expected over the next three to five years.
In this context, Accor had a banner year in 2023 with a record number of projects signed - eleven in all - including upmarket hotels such as the Fairmont Agra and the Pullman Amritsar, as well as airport hotels in Bangalore with the Novotel and ibis Styles Bengaluru Airport Varun. Last year also saw the inauguration of six new hotels. These include three Novotel mainly targeting business customers, one close to Mumbai international airport, another linked to the Jaipur convention centre and the last in Jodhpur, with a 14,000 sq. metre event space. Other Novotels are also on the agenda for 2024, with openings scheduled for the third quarter in New Delhi, Goa and Bhubaneshwar.
While the French group can count on its mid-range and economy brands to develop its Indian network, such as the Mercure Chandigarh and ibis Styles Mysuru expected later this year, 2024 will be marked above all by the arrival ofa second Raffles hotel in India. After Udaipur, the luxury brand will be setting up in Jaipur, right next to another of the group's hotels, the Fairmont Jaipur, which opened in 2012. These two neighbours will share a vast estate where Raffles will welcome its guests in 50 exclusive suites, each with its own private swimming pool.
At the heart of India's tourist Golden Triangle with Agra and Delhi, the 'Pink City' is a prime destination for the French hotelier's top-of-the-range brands, with a Sofitel also announced for 2028. The Sofitel Jaipur Jawahar Circle will focus on MICE, with 275 rooms and 5,000 m² of meeting space designed to host up to four major events at the same time. At the same time, the hotel's four restaurants will showcase French gastronomy and the art of living.
Polonaise for Marriott
While Accor is stepping up its expansion in India, another hotel leader, Marriott, is announcing its expansion in one of the French group's key markets, Poland. With 24 hotels currently in the country, the American group plans to add more than 10 hotels over the next few years. This growth will involve the launch of two new brands in the country: Le Méridien with Le Méridien Krakow Royal in 2025 and Element Hotels by Westin with a long-stay establishment in Wroclaw. Poland's third largest city is also preparing to welcome a new Four Points by Sheraton and an Autograph Collection hotel, while in Krakow a Luxury Collection hotel, the H15 Luxury Palace, located in the Lubomirski Palace, will be added to Le Méridien. As for the capital Warsaw, it will see two new Marriott hotels appear next year with a Moxy and a member of the Tribute Portfolio collection.
While Accor targets India and Marriott Poland, Hilton is preparing to strengthen its offer right next to its original birthplace in Canada. Already well represented on the other side of the US border with 180 hotels, the group plans to increase its portfolio of hotels by 50 % over the next five years. Nearly 90 hotels are planned, including the arrival this year of two brands in Canada, with the first Motto by Hilton hotel in Montreal and four establishments for its new 'plus' economy brand, Spark by Hilton, all in Ontario, in Toronto, Oshawa, Woodstock and Owen Sound. Together with Hampton and Tru by Hitlon, these budget brands account for more than 60 % of Hilton's pipeline in Canada. At the same time, the group also intends to strengthen the presence of its Home2 Suites and DoubleTree brands and triple the presence of its lifestyle offering over the next few years, with the opening this year of the Revery Toronto Downtown, Curio Collection by Hilton.
