Interview : Alexis Delaroff, CEO of Accor Russia and CIS countries

How many hotels does the Accor group own in Russia, and what interest does the country represent?

Alexis Delaroff - Accor currently manages eight hotels in Russia. Two Novotel and one Ibis in Moscow, one Novotel and one Ibis in St Petersburg, one Ibis in Kazan and another in Omsk, as well as a Novotel in Yekaterinburg. Moscow, as a megalopolis with a population of almost 15 million, is bound to be an interesting market. What's more, there are as many international standard rooms in Moscow as there are around Charles de Gaulle airport in France... So there's potential there. As Russia is the most populous country in Europe, with 140 million inhabitants and a growth rate higher than that of the European Union, we are seeing the slow but sure emergence of a middle class that travels, and will therefore be using our brands in the future.

How are you positioned from a pricing point of view in Moscow?

A. D. - Our hotels respect their historical positioning while remaining in line with the market. Recently, overall hotel prices in Moscow have fallen. The majority of our customers are still business travellers, and we offer targeted packages and the same formulas that have made us so successful in Europe and around the world. And Moscow hotels are taking part in all kinds of marketing initiatives. What's more, we adapt our pricing to specific market events.

Are there any new openings planned in Moscow in the near future?

A. D. - We are planning a 115-room Mercure in 2011 and a 350-room Novotel in 2012. There are other projects, but they are a little further away.