| DALLAS - Nov. 9, 2000 - Reflecting its increased
focus on growth opportunities for its budget, economy, mid-scale and upscale
brands in North America, Accor S.A., the world�s third-largest hotel company,
has combined its multi-branded and previously free-standing North American
divisions into one operating entity. Accor Economy Lodging, which operates
the Motel 6, Studio 6 and Red Roof Inns brands, and Accor North America,
which operates the Sofitel and Novotel brands in North America, have been
combined to create Accor Lodging North America (ALNA), based in Dallas,
TX. As part of this realignment, Georges Le Mener, previously president
and CEO of Accor Economy Lodging, has been appointed president and CEO
of Accor Lodging North America which, in aggregate, contributes approximately
30% of Accor�s total profit worldwide.
While certain corporate functions will be consolidated
to maximize time and cost efficiencies, ALNA will maintain three operating
units responsible for supporting and developing its five brands.
| Economy lodging
leaders Motel 6, Studio 6 and Red Roof Inns will continue to be operated
by the Accor Economy Lodging division, under the leadership of executive
vice presidents Jim Amorosia and Scott Griffith for Motel 6/ Studio 6,
and Joe Wheeling for Red Roof Inns.
The upscale and mid-scale brands, Sofitel and
Novotel, operating in North America will be managed by ALNA�s Business
and Leisure Hotels division under the leadership of Jean-Francois Maljean,
a 25-year veteran of Accor S.A. who most recently served as head of development
for Accor in Central and South America.
According to Mr. Le Mener, the realignment of
Accor�s North American operations alsounderscores Accor�s recently announced
strategy to broaden consumer awareness of |
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Accor Casinos sets up a
�Gambling School� in Bordeaux together with the French National Employment
Agency
Accor Casinos and the French National Employment Agency
in Bordeaux have signed an agreement to open a �Gambling School� in Bordeaux.
The school will train some fifteen young job seekers from the Bordeaux
region in gambling trades. Accor Casinos is setting up the �Gambling
School� to prepare for the opening of the Bordeaux casino, as it did last
year when the Dax Casino opened. Accor Casinos plans to be operator and
concessionaire of this new casino as well.
Assuming it obtains an operating license, the Bordeaux
Aquitania casino will be opening in a few months at the Sofitel Aquitania,
while awaiting its final installation in a new building.
Under these terms, the interns selected at the end of
the training programme will join the staff of the Aquitania casino within
the coming months. In time, the opening of the Bordeaux casino is
expected to generate more than 200 jobs. |
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its international network of brands. �Accor is a
worldwide leader in lodging, travel and related services, but because the
company historically has placed a greater emphasis on the individual identity
of each of its brands, few consumers - especially in the United States
- know the scale and breadth of Accor and its international offerings.
Positioning our brands as part of the Accor global network will give added
value to our brands by conveying the substantial resources and quality
orientation behind the products and services we offer,� he said. �Each
of our brand logos will now include the Accor name and identification,
which we believe will enable us to coherently present to current and future
customers the vast array of products we offer both domestically and internationally.
This strategy also allows us to cross market our brands and services to
meet the needs of our customers regardless of destination or price preferences.�
Concurrent with creation of Accor Lodging North
America and the appointment of Jean-Francois Maljean, the company announced
today that it will expand Accor�s development efforts in Mexico, where
today two Novotels and two Ibis locations are under construction in Mexico
City and Monterrey. In addition, Accor today announces signature of a development
and management agreement for a 402-room Sofitel in Cancun. Slated to open
in November 2002, this most recent project for a beach-front hotel will
represent an investment of approximately $60 million into this important
resort market.
While ALNA properties operate primarily in the
U.S., budget leader Motel 6 and mid-scale Novotel also are represented
in Canada, with plans calling for additional Canadian expansion of these
two brands over the next few years. |
