Accor launches new hotel in Hanoi

Accor, a world leader in hotel management, put into service Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi last week, taking a further step to realize its ambitious goal to become the largest hotel management group in Vietnam.
The new 5-star hotel is located on the old site of Dan Chu hotel on Trang Tien Street in the capital city of Hanoi, a walking distance from the iconic Opera House, with total investment capital of some VND400 billion.
Patrick Basset, vice president of operations for Accor Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan and South Korea, said at a news briefing in Hanoi last week that the launch of the hotel was the latest member of the MGallery Collection – a brand name for boutique and upscale hotels.
“We are delighted with the addition of the Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi to the MGallery Collection, and this is a boutique hotel in every sense and the first for the city of Hanoi,” Basset said.
The hotel has 107 guestrooms and suites, designed with a blend touch of French décor and a comfort of a modern hotel. Depending on seasons, the elite hotel offers an average room rate at US$136++ per night.
To distinguish the new brand from other ones, the hotel operator describes its MGallery as a collection of exceptional upscale hotels selected through their individualistic personality and characteristics.
MGallery hotels are categorized according to four themes including vision, design, history and exceptional location. While other brands such as Sofitel positioned in the luxury segment and Pullman focusing on the upscale business travel trade, MGallery comprises atypical upscale hotels.
Also in the new brand, Accor brought into service its La Résidence Hue in the ancient city of Hue in the central region and La Veranda Resort in the island district of Phu Quoc.
Basset said Accor now had some 20 hotels in Vietnam, including projects under construction, and that the group’s target was both to increase the number of hotels and to introduce its major brands in Vietnam in the years to come.
“We want to remain the largest operator in Vietnam, and the most important for us is to introduce all the major brands in the country,” Basset told the Daily.
Accor now manages hotels under the luxury Sofitel brand, the upscale MGallery, and the mid-range Mercure and Novotel in HCMC, Hanoi, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Halong and other parts of Vietnam.
It is on the way to launch its next brand to Vietnam with Pullman hotels by 2013.
The Pullman Haiphong Flamboyant Island Resort in Do Son District will provide the local hospitality market with 300 rooms. The Pullman Danang Beach will join the market with over 200 guestrooms. The Pullman Vung Tau is scheduled to go online with 360 guestrooms and Pullman Hanoi Horison will offer some 250 guestrooms to cater to the demand for upscale business and leisure facilities in the coming time.
Besides, the hotel operator has worked on its first budget hotel project under brand name ibis in HCMC’s Saigon South. When in place, the three-star hotel will offer the market with 160 rooms and other serviced facilities.
Basset revealed that the group was discussing with some owners of hotels in HCMC to expand the hotel collection under the MGallery brand in the bustling southern city.
In Vietnam, Accor now manages more than 2,000 guestrooms and is looking to operate at least 3,700 new hotel rooms of different grades in the next three years. Globally, the group operates 4,200 hotels with more than 500,000 rooms in 90 markets.