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 Accor's Hotel Business Lackluster in France and
in Economy Segment in the United States, 
But Revenues Up 4.1% for First Half of 2004
2004 Interim Results
Profit before Tax Up 25%

Paris, September 8 2004

En EUR millions
1H 2003
1H 2004
Reported change
Like-for-like* change
Revenues
3,306
3,443
+4.1%
+5.3%
Ebitdar

Ebitdar margin

817

24.7%

856

24.9%

+4.8%

+0.2 pts

+5.9%

+0.2 pts

Profit before tax
180
225
+25.0%
+26.7%
Net income (Group share)
106
81
-23.6%
Funds from operations
379
389
+2.6%
*at comparable scope of consolidation and exchange rates

First-half results

Business continued to improve in first-half 2004, driving a 25% increase in profit before tax to EUR 225 million. On a like-for-like basis, the increase was 26.7%. Net income (Group share) totaled EUR 81 million, a decline of EUR 25 million due to higher capital gains recorded in first-half 2003.

In Hotels, the situation was mixed depending on the country and its position in the economic cycle. In regions that have felt the effects of the recovery�the upscale segment in the United States (Sofitel), the United Kingdom, Asia-Pacific, South America and certain countries in Continental Europe�Ebitdar rose sharply on a like-for-like basis. On the other hand, the Economy segment in the United States and the hotels business in France saw only a modest like-for-like increase. For the hotels business as a whole, Ebitdar margin was unchanged at 27.9%.

The Services business enjoyed continued growth in all its markets, with an improvement in margins. Ebitdar rose by 19.3% on a like-for-like basis.

Strategic progress 

A large number of strategic advances were made during the first half. In Hotels, the Accor network was extended with the opening of more than 100 units representing 13,000 rooms (of which 46% outside Europe) and the completion of the program to co-brand Dorint hotels, now operated under a management contract, with the Sofitel, Novotel and Mercure chains. Accor also announced the purchase of a 28.9% stake in Club Méditerranée and expanded its offering for weekend, getaway and leisure customers. New acquisitions were made by Accor Services in gift vouchers and cards in the United Kingdom (Capital Incentives) and by Carlson Wagonlit Travel in France (Protravel) and the United States (Maritz). In casinos, Accor is joining forces with Groupe Lucien Barrière to create a European leader. 

Outlook

After the first-half growth in results, summer business was lackluster in France and the Economy segment in the United States has yet to benefit from the return to growth. The outlook for the fall is more promising and the Services business is pursuing its growth. In this context, Accor has set a full-year profit before tax objective of EUR 570 to 590 million, versus EUR 523 million in 2003.

Thanks to its unique advantages and steady, balanced expansion that provides new sources of growth around the world, Accor continues to look to the future with confidence.

With 158,000 people in 140 countries, Accor is the European leader and one of the world's largest groups in travel, tourism and corporate services.


 
Contact:
Jacques Charbit Marie-Claire Camus
+33 (0) 1 45 38 87 53 
accor.com

 
Also See: Accor Reports Hotel Occupancy, RevPAR by Market Segment and Country for 1st Qtr 2004 / April 2004
Accor Reports 2003 Revenues Down 4.3%; Opens 170 New Hotels / Hotel Operating Statistics / January 2004


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