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News for the Hospitality Executive |
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Region Reaches Record Numbers and Accor Expands Rapidly Carrollton, TX (February 28, 2007) - Accor has expanded its annual World of Accor trade expo to 14 destinations this year, making it the largest-ever travel expo staged by any hotel company in the Asia Pacific region. Coinciding with the increase in U.S. tourism to China, the expo comes to the U.S. for the first time in its history on March 27, 2007 at Sofitel�s newest North American flagship property, the glamorous Sofitel Los Angeles. Representatives from Accor�s worldwide network of 4000 hotels will participate in the trade expos to showcase new hotel product and destinations, and to discuss with clients their domestic, inbound and outbound hotel needs. Travel agents, wholesalers, corporate travel bookers, meetings, conference and exhibition specialists and travel industry partners are all welcome to attend the events. A new website - www.worldofaccor.com � has been established, offering information and registration details in six languages. Registration opens this week. In addition to Los Angeles, other first time venues for World of Accor this year are Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou, adding to the already-established venues of Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Melbourne and Sydney. World of Accor expos will commence in March in Tokyo, Seoul and Los Angeles, and will culminate with an event in Beijing in September that will coincide with the official launch of Accor�s new flagship hotel in China, Sofitel Wanda Beijing. The expansion of World of Accor comes at a time of vast expansion in Accor�s hotel network in the Asia Pacific region. The group has added six hotels in French Polynesia to its network, with the United States a prime market for these luxury Sofitel hotels, and is undergoing massive expansion in China and India, as well as adding significant new hotels and resorts in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. The expansion will see the Asia Pacific network grow from its current 300 hotels to over 350 hotels by the end of 2008. �We are very excited about bringing the World of Accor to Los Angeles for the first time ever,� said Accor Asia Pacific Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Ray Stone. �With the growth of Accor�s portfolio of hotels in the Asia Pacific, and particularly in areas that are popular with US travelers, we believe there will be great interest in the expo from the travel industry based on the West Coast. �Significant new Accor hotels are opening across China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Australia and the South Pacific region, and we want to ensure that the travel industry is fully aware of the new product and destinations on offer. �We have strong representation from all sectors of the accommodation industry � corporate, leisure, meetings and incentives � and with over 300 hotels in 16 countries across Asia Pacific, Accor is able to offer a one-stop shot for American travel agents marketing and selling to the region. �A particularly strong message we want to deliver is the �new era of Sofitel�. We are holding the expo at the Sofitel Los Angeles, which only recently re-opened after a massive upgrading program and is now one of the city�s finest deluxe hotels. This reflects a global move to take the brand more upmarket. Recently launched Sofitels in French Polynesia, Fiji, China and Thailand have established new standards for the brand. �With the 2008 Olympics just over a year away, China will also be a primary focus for World of Accor 2007. We are set to double our network of hotels in China from 40 to almost 80 by the end of 2008, with the network covering all sectors and the country�s major business and leisure locations.� Mr. Stone said that all travel trade personnel were welcome at the events and in addition to the opportunity to meet with Accor delegates around the world, they would be offered outstanding cuisine, entertainment and excellent prizes. �I hope we can meet as many representatives from the travel industry as possible during the series of expos,� said Mr. Stone. �It is the perfect opportunity to discover more about the rapidly growing World of Accor.� World of Accor expos:
With 160,000 associates in nearly 100 countries, Accor is the European leader in hotels and tourism and the global leader in corporate services. |
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Peter Hook, Director of Communications
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| Also See: | Sofitel Los Angeles Unveils Its New Look After $40 Million Extreme Makeover / June 2006 |
| Accor Opening Sofitel Hotels in Guangzhou and Shanghai / September 2005 |
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