Accor Set To Unveil 30 New Hotels Across India

As per media reports, Sébastien Bazin, CEO & Chairman, Accor, has hinted at the potential emergence of more upscale hotels in India from esteemed brands like Fairmont, Raffles, and Sofitel. He also mentioned that additional luxury and lifestyle brands under Accor are set to enter the Indian market in the coming years.

Accor has outlined plans to introduce 30 new hotels in India within the next three to five years, adding around 5,500 rooms to its portfolio. Despite already operating 62 hotels in India, with a total of about 11,000 rooms, Bazin believes there is still room for expansion.

Bazin mentioned, “I have always had great faith in India. However, while we operate 2,000 hotels in France, we have fewer than 100 hotels in India. Considering the vast size of the country, we should ideally have over 1,000 hotels here. I understand this will take time, but it’s a vision for the future that will be worthwhile. As we expand, we will require more Accor employees across various levels and will need to empower them with greater decision-making authority.

We are fortunate to have the best partner anyone could hope for in Rahul Bhatia of IndiGo Airlines. I should be visiting here every quarter to deepen my understanding of the country and to address any existing challenges. It’s uncommon to find a country with the world’s largest population that has been the fastest-growing for the past five years and is likely to maintain this pace for the next five years, coupled with a burgeoning middle class, improved access to education, and advancements in technology and telecom. India boasts a rich heritage, archaeology, and diverse geography stretching from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean. It offers everything one could desire, backed by a visionary government.”

Bazin noted that Accor, which is poised to unveil its Raffles Jaipur hotel this year, is also considering the possibility of introducing luxury brands like Orient Express to India. However, he acknowledged that challenges in hotel development timelines persist, despite a more favourable fiscal environment.

He added, “It is likely the most historic brand in the hospitality sector, with a legacy of about 140 years. It’s more than just a product; it embodies a sentiment. We are expanding into trains, yachts, and hotels under this brand. Orient Express holds significant potential in India. Raffles, on the other hand, represents elegance, heritage, and palatial luxury, making it one of our most promising brands.”

Accor launched its luxury and lifestyle division approximately 18 months ago, comprising approximately 550 hotels and 24 brands, including renowned names like 25hours, Delano, Mondrian, Mama Shelter, and MGallery. In collaboration with the Hinduja Group, Accor introduced Raffles London at The OWO last year, marking London's most opulent hotel.

Last year, Accor expanded its portfolio with the addition of 291 hotels totalling 41,000 rooms. Bazin indicated that the company aims to open a similar number of hotels this year, equating to approximately 48,000-50,000 rooms. Furthermore, Accor onboarded 1,20,000 new employees last year.