Annie Fournier, an experienced sales and marketing professional, has been appointed Director of International Sales � Asia, based in Hong Kong. Ms Fournier began her career in hotels in Vancouver, Canada, and then worked in Beijing and Hong Kong for Shangri-La and Swissotel, as well as Hutchison Telecommunications before joining Accor in 1997 as Regional Director of Sales, based in Hong Kong. 

Accor has also established an international sales office in Shanghai, with Mary Goh appointed Director of International Sales, with responsibility for outbound travel from China. Ms Goh has worked with Accor for 14 years, initially at the Novotel Orchid Singapore, then as Director of Sales & Marketing at the Novotel Beijing and, most recently, as Accor�s Regional Director of Sales in Singapore.

The appointments are part of the Accor 2000 strategy to develop the world�s most comprehensive network of international sales offices to support Accor�s rapidly growing hotel portfolio. All executives in the international sales office team will sell the full network of Accor�s 2,800 hotels, with emphasis on business and leisure hotels that attract large percentages of international travellers.

The Hong Kong and Shanghai offices join other international sales offices in the Asia/Pacific region, including Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney. 

The strengthening of Accor�s sales presence in Hong Kong and China also reflects Accor growing hotel network in China, with new hotels scheduled to open in Zhengzhou, Jinan, Pudong and Wuhan in the next 12 months. These hotels will join existing Sofitel and Novotel hotels in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hefei and Zhengzhou. 

Accor operates hotels under the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis and Formule 1 brands. In Asia Pacific, Accor operates 135 hotels in 15 countries. In addition to hotels, Accor is a leader in tourism services, including major interests in rental car, travel agencies, catering and other services.