Hotel operator plans expansion

Accor, the largest international hotel operator in Viet Nam, announced yesterday, March 10, its strategic expansion plans including additional hotels within the Novotel, Mercure hotel brand, launching of the ibis brand and MGallery label.
It also plans to double the number of rooms under its management by 2012.
"Viet Nam has always been considered by Accor as one of the strategic markets in Southeast Asia. With signs of both economic recovery and a re-strengthening of tourism arrivals, we're confident and ready to selectively expand our presence throughout the country," said Patrick Basset, vice president of operations for Viet Nam, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan.
Accor plans to expand the number of brands on offer in Viet Nam to include upscale products to more economical brands.
"The coming 12 months is sure to be an exciting period for Accor in Viet Nam, with many new developments in the pipeline. Pullman Vung Tau will be the first for the brand in the country, while Hotel De L'Opera Hanoi will be the second hotel of the highly distinctive upscale MGallery label," said Basset.
The fourth Mercure hotel, Mercure Hado Hanoi, is by scheduled to receive guests by this year's end.
On April 1, Le Belhamy Hoi An Resort and Spa, a 131-room resort hotel located on Ha My Beach and near Hoi An, will receive its first guests.
Novotel Imperial Hoi An, Novotel Resort Phu Quoc and Novotel Saigon Centre are also going to be built.
In addition, the first two ibis hotels in the country will be in HCM City, ibis Saigon and ibis Saigon South. These hotels represent the first two international economy hotels for Viet Nam.
Accor currently has 13 hotels under the Sofitel, MGallery, Novotel, and Mercure hotel brands, with 2,147 rooms in operation throughout Viet Nam and more than 2,000 additional rooms committed through ongoing development.
"Accor has confidence in Viet Nam's continued economic stability and growth, and therefore is determined to remain the largest international hotel operator in the country, with a hotel brand portfolio covering the spectrum of luxury to economy," he added.
Accor, a major global group and the European leader in hotels with brands including Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Adagio, ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1, hotelF1 and Motel 6, manages 4,100 hotels of almost 500,000 rooms in 90 countries.