Accor inks 50 management contracts

Accorhotels sealed an exclusive partnership with the major Angolan company AAA, to open 50 hotels with more than 6,200 rooms ranging from luxury to economy in Angola between now and 2017.

“This historical and unheard-of establishment of a hospitality group in Angola, which was made possible through our partnership with AAA, testifies to AccorHotels’ ambition in Africa, where tourism is rapidly evolving,” explains Sebastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of AccorHotels.

“Angola has 25 million inhabitants, 40 per cent of which are of working age. Therefore, 3,000 employees will be hired locally in a large selection of hospitality jobs, ranging from restaurant service to executive positions: The group commits to train these employees, as well as to pass on its values to them.”

FIRST TIME IN ANGOLA

Carlos Manuel de Sao Vicente, chairman of AAA, highlighted that this collaboration with AccorHotels was an unprecedented alliance in the global hospitality industry in Angola and that it aimed at addressing a growing international demand, with a network covering the whole territory.

“Angola is diversifying the economy in order to reduce the dependence from the mineral economy, namely oil and diamond industry,” says de Sao Vicente. We are sure that Angola will soon become a big player in the hospitality and tourism activity in Africa. Angola will become a major tourist destination. Our 50 hotels will help to stimulate the domestic and international tourism.”

ACROSS 18 PROVINCES

Over the next two years, 50 hotels will be opened in strategic locations, such as in Luanda, the Angolan capital, and in 17 provincial capitals: 6 hotels will open in 2015, 22 in 2016 and another 22 in 2017.

The offering will cover all segments of the hotel market, from luxury to economy, including midscale. Twenty-seven hotels will operate under the banner of the economic ibis Styles brand, 22 under that of the midscale Mercure brand, and 1 under the luxury Sofitel brand.

Last year, AccorHotels signed 12 new contracts in Africa, representing nearly 2,000 new rooms. This year, the chain is expanding its hotel offering to Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Ivory Coast. AccorHotels also intends to open more than 30 new hotels in Sub-Saharan Africa before 2020.

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Accor’s Africa domination

30 Hotels aimed for in Sub-Saharan Africa before 2020
12 Management contracts signed last year in Africa
6,200 Rooms to open in Angola by 2017