Since 2015, the group Accor has conquered the Swiss market by taking over two of Switzerland's most emblematic hotel brands. The acquisition of Raffles in 2016 brought brand into Accor's portfolio Swissôtel. Visit 2018, the Group had also finalised the buyback from Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.
In Switzerland, the chain has a portfolio of 77 establishments on all its brands. Its two 'pure' Swiss brands, however, remain under-represented. Mövenpick manages six establishments and Swissôtel one hotel.. The Group has recently taken the decision to close its two sites in Basel and Zurich.
Yet Switzerland remains a market with a bright future, according to Duncan O'Rourke, Accor Group Director for Northern Europe. "Switzerland is a very interesting market for us, and we are always on the lookout for interesting opportunities to drive the strategic development of our brands", he said in an interview with the AWP business news service.
The group plans to add around forty hotels, 10 to 15 of which are expected to be new builds.. Investments in Switzerland will be diversified: "our portfolio will continue to include urban and leisure destinations", explained the Director for Northern Europe in an interview with AWP.
Swissôtel in Bern, Mövenpick in Basel
As a result, many existing establishments will come under the Mövenpick, Swissôtel or Pullman brands. According to Duncan O'Rourke, the the 4/5 star segment still has the best chance of prospering in the Confederation.
Being part of a group such as Accor also enables us to benefit from economies of scale. And to promote the establishments globally, including through loyalty programmes. According to AWP's Director for Northern Europe, this would help to lower prices.
In the spring, the group Accor opened the Swissôtel Bern Kursaal. At September will follow the Mövenpick Hotel Basel. In the leisure sector, the Group plans to open a Mövenpick Resort hotel in Savognin in 2023 and in Disentis in Graubünden in 2024.
