The Mercure and ibis Styles brands are driving new UK openings for AccorHotels in 2018 it has revealed as six out of seven hotels opened this year operate under those brands.
The hospitality giant said that a two further Mercure hotels have been signed in the first half of the year. Hotels already opened by AccorHotels in 2018 are Ibis Styles London Gloucester Road, Novote
The hotel group has also signed six new hotels in 2018 to date: MGallery York, Mercure Newbury West Grange, Mercure Leeds, ibis Budget Manchester Airport and two Adagio properties in Glasgow and Brentford respectively.
AccorHotels said it is “positive about the outlook for the growth of its UK network”, particularly given the increased range of brands in its portfolio following recent acquisitions and brand innovations.
This includes the strategic partnership that saw AccorHotels take a 50% stake in Mantis Hotels earlier this year. Following that announcement the Devonshire Club was added to the Mantis collection of hotels in the UK joining the Lord Milner and The Draycott Hotel both of which are also in London and the Alladale Wilderness Reserve in the Scottish Highlands.
Phillip Lassman, VP of development, AccorHotels UK & Ireland, said: “We’re seeing a lot of appetite from investors, owners and franchisees for brands that are internationally recognised but still offer an element of flexibility and local feel.
“The Ibis Styles and Mercure brands are particularly ideal for this, but we try to take a more flexible and tailored approach to design across our brand portfolio, with our more established brands also providing innovative options to owners who want flexibility alongside globally recognised standards.
Thomas Dubaere, COO of AccorHotels Northern Europe, added: “Our comprehensive portfolio from luxury to economy, and from lifestyle to aparthotels, offers prospective owners an unrivalled brand and format choice which has created a lot of development opportunities for us in the UK.
“We’re confident that our varied and distinct brands will help us to drive continued growth for AccorHotels and deliver continued success to our partners. Over the past few years we have opened ten new hotels a year, and we are confident we can accelerate this growth rate.”
