Hotel Online Special Report 
Accor Will Manage Apollo Hotel Singapore; Will Be Re-branded Novotel Apollo Singapore 14 October, 1999: The world’s largest hotel and tourism company, Accor, today announced the signing of an agreement with Singapore Stock Exchange-listed company, Apollo Enterprises Limited, for a Novotel hotel in Singapore.
Under the terms of the agreement, Accor will take over the management of the Apollo Hotel Singapore from 3 November 1999, and the hotel will be re-branded Novotel Apollo Singapore. It will join a global network of over 320 Novotel hotels and resorts, and will be a highly strategic addition to Accor’s worldwide group, which comprises 3,300 hotels and an extensive range of tourism services.
The prominent hotel on Havelock Road recently underwent an S$80 million upgrade and extension programme. A new wing was constructed with 135 new rooms, as well as additional conference, banqueting and leisure facilities. The hotel now comprises a total of 480 rooms.
Apollo Enterprises will undertake an extensive refurbishment program, commencing with the upgrading of 180 of the existing rooms, which will be introduced to the market over the coming 12 months.
The Novotel brand has been prominent throughout the Asia Pacific region since 1981, when Accor made its first entry into the region via the launch of a Novotel in Singapore. Since then, the Novotel network had grown to 53 hotels and resorts in Asia Pacific, with a further seven hotels under development.
Accor Asia Pacific Chairman, David Baffsky said that Accor viewed Singapore as a very important and highly strategic centre for Accor and its global network.
“It has been a priority for Accor to gain a quality international-standard hotel in Singapore, and we believe that with the Apollo’s prominent location and its comprehensive facilities, it will make an excellent addition to the Accor group,” said Mr Baffsky.
“This agreement could not be more timely, as it occurs when the Asia Pacific region is clearly regaining its economic vitality.
“We anticipate that travel both to and from Singapore will grow sharply over the next few years, and the Apollo is set to benefit considerably from the Novotel’s international brand recognition. Particularly strong inbound markets to Singapore at present are the UK and Australia, which have both increased by 10% in the first eight months of this year over last year, and also Asian markets such as Korea.”
Executive Director of Apollo Enterprises, Mr William Ng, welcomed the alliance with Accor, saying that Accor would bring to the hotel the world’s most extensive sales, marketing and reservations network.
“Singapore is very much an international destination, and corporate travellers are increasingly seeking global hotel chains for their accommodation and conferences,” said Mr William Ng. “By adding Novotel branding the hotel will gain significant benefits from Novotel’s alliances with airlines, wholesalers and other partners. With Accor’s worldwide reservations system, coupled with the right product, maximum synergy will be drawn from this strategic partnership.”
In addition to the hotel’s 480 rooms and suites, the Apollo has extensive restaurant and function facilities, including a choice of Indonesian, Chinese, Korean and international restaurants, grand ballroom, an extensive range of meeting rooms, business centre. Recreation facilities include a swimming pool and tennis court.
Accor is the world’s largest hotel and tourism group. In addition to its hotel network, Accor is the European leader in car rental, travel agencies and tourism services. The Paris based company is also the largest hotel group in the Asia Pacific region with some 140 hotels and over 25,000 rooms under the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis and Formule 1 brands.
Contact: Apollo – Mr William Ng, 65-7396499 Accor – Suzanne Shaw telephone 61 2 93670835 or [email protected] Also See: Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo Redesigning Interior of The Pan Pacific Singapore’s Grand Ballroom / May 1999 Asian Economics Resume Upward Curve…Good News for the Travel and Tourism Industry / PATA / August 1999 Benchmark Adds Singapore’s Beaufort Sentosa Hotel to its Family of Conference Hotels / Oct 1998 Asian Hotel Development – a boom beginning to wane? / Arthur Andersen / Winter 1998