Accor Plots Middle East Hotel Push

French hospitality group Accor is embarking on a major Middle East expansion including the extension of the regionally exclusive Majilis Grand Mercure brand.

The group, whose brands include Sofitel, Novotel and ibis, plans to reach 100 hotels in the region by 2017, with 27 properties under construction and 14 set to open this year.

Accor opened its first Majilis in Medina, Saudi Arabia and plans to spread the Arabic experience brand across key cities in the region

“We have signed the first property in the Holy City of Medina and we have some very well advanced discussions for several projects where we would like to cover the key cities, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Saudi obviously and potentially Egypt as well,” Olivier Granet, director of development, Accor Middle East, told Gulf Business.

“There is a strong interest for such a brand in the GCC and Middle East so we expect to have very soon 15 to 20 properties in key cities here in the region.”

Other plans include the introduction of the ibis Styles brand, with ibis Styles Dragon Mart in partnership with developer Nakheel, set to launch in Dubai, and the expansion of the economy ibis brand.

Accor is also launching the Adagio apartment hotel brand, having opened the Adagio Fujairah Town Centre in the UAE this year, and has six new Adagio apartment hotels in development across the region.