INDIA Accor plans to launch its Sofitel, Pullman and Formule1 brands in India this year, bringing to six the number of brands it will have operating in the burgeoning economy.
“Accor is excited about the growth prospects in India and where we are taking a multi-segment approach to the market,” says CEO Denis Hennequin. “This will see Accor participate in the upscale and luxury segments while developing strongly in the budget and midscale segments. With the debut of the Sofitel, Pullman and Formule1 brands this year, Accor will be the only international hotel company in India with such a comprehensive strategy and brands covering all segments, from luxury to budget.”
Sofitel Luxury Hotels will debut in the country with the opening of the 302-key Sofitel Mumbai BKC, at the city’s Bandra Kurla Complex, in the third quarter. An additional Sofitel is committed for Mumbai and scheduled to open in the Mulund area in 2015.
Pullman offers business travelers environments that are designed as comfortable, inviting spaces for meeting and interacting. The brand will launch in India in the third quarter with the opening of the 284-key Pullman Gurgaon. Three additional Pullman hotels are committed in India, including at Delhi International Airport in 2012.
The budget Formule1 brand will launch its first two India properties in Pune and Noida in the fourth quarter. A total of 10 Formule1 sites have been secured throughout the country.
Accor currently operates nine hotels in India, the latest of which is Ibis Mumbai Airport, which opened last month. The company has three hotels each for its Ibis, Mercure and Novotel brands. Between now and the end of 2012, Accor will open 21 additional hotels in India, and it has commitments for 62 hotels, putting it on track to achieve its goal of 90 hotels in the country by 2015.