50 HOTEL MANAGMENT CONTRACTS IN ANGOLA
On the occasion of the French President’s visit to Angola in July 2015, AccorHotels sealed an exclusive partnership with the major Angolan company AAA ACTIVOS LDA, to open 50 hotels (more than 6,200 rooms) in Angola from luxury to economy between 2015 and 2017.
“This historical and unheard of establishment of a hospitality group in Angola, which was made possible through our partnership with AAA ACTIVOS LDA, 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% 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”.
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. AAA is already contributing to achieve this strategic role by investing in the building of a national chain of 50 hotels in all capital of provinces and a chain of 3 logistic centers to supply the hotels. Now we have establish a partnership with Accorhotels to manage the hotels, train Angolans and provide hospitality services in all hotels with international quality standards with a French flavor and an Angolan touch. We are sure that Angola will become soon 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.”
AAA is a major Angolan corporation, known for its leadership in oil insurance and in investment. AAA began as a specialized risk management financial services provider and has led the co-insurance market in the Angolan oil sector since 2000. The company also operates in petroleum reinsurance and brokerage in UK and Bermuda.
50 hotels in strategic locations in Angola
Over the next two years, 50 hotels will be opened in strategic locations, such as in Luanda, the Angola capital, and the 17 capitals of province: 6 hotels in 2015, 22 in 2016 and 22 in 2017. The offer will cover all segments of the hotel market, from luxury to economy, including midscale. 27 hotels will be operated under the banner of the economic ibis Styles brand, 22 under that of the midscale Mercure brand, and 1 under the luxury Sofitel brand.
Development of AccorHotels in Africa
For 40 years, AccorHotels has been a major economic player and is now Africa’s leading hotel operator in terms of the number of rooms.
The Group’s headquarters for Africa and the Indian Ocean is based in Casablanca, and AccorHotels operates in 18 countries with more than 10,000 employees, 94 hotels, from the Maghreb region to Southern Africa. In 2014, AccorHotels signed 12 new contracts in Africa, representing nearly 2,000 new rooms. In 2015, AccorHotels is expanding its hotel offer 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.
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR TWO HOTELS IN TEHRAN
On September 15, 2015, AccorHotels announced that it had signed a management agreement with Aria Ziggurat for its two inaugural properties in Tehran.
The new hotels – Novotel IKIA and ibis IKIA – are connected to the main terminal of Imam Khomeini International Airport and were opened in October 2015. AccorHotels is the first international hotel group to launch its brands in Iran.
Sébastien Bazin, AccorHotels’ Chairman and CEO, said at a press conference in Tehran: “We are very excited about signing this partnership with Aria Ziggurat in Iran. We are certain that Novotel and ibis will fit perfectly into the growth momentum that Iran’s hospitality sector is enjoying. Our brands are looking at huge growth potential in this country, which is home to almost 80 million people and is expanding its economy. Our ambition is to develop an important network in the country thanks to our global portfolio of brands covering all segments, from luxury to midscale and economy.”
Dr Mehdi Jahangiri, Aria Ziggurat’s Chairman, added: “We believe the expertise of international hospitality groups will upgrade local standards and existing levels of service in our hotels, and ultimately add value to our business. This important agreement with AccorHotels for the management of Novotel and ibis IKIA hotels in Tehran is a prosperous beginning that defines our new offer of hotel service along with an Iranian taste of hospitality and rich culture to our valued customers, partners and employees.”
Aria Ziggurat Tourism Development Co., as a subsidiary of SEMEGA, is the owning company of Novotel and ibis IKIA hotels with 4 and 5 star ratings in Tehran. It is a private company established and registered in 2010 under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Aria Ziggurat, SEMEGA, Tourism Bank and 37 other sister companies are all members of Tourism Financial Group, a leading holding company in Iran with over 4,100 staff members mainly dedicated to developing the tourism and hospitality industry in the country.
The almost 500-room cluster hotels encompass a midscale hotel – Novotel IKIA (296 rooms) – and an economy hotel – ibis IKIA (196 rooms). Strategically connected to the main terminal of Imam Khomeini International Airport, within a 45-minute drive from downtown Tehran, the two new hotels are ideally positioned to attract domestic and international business travelers and tourists. Guests will enjoy a choice of Iranian and international cuisine, large meeting rooms and convention venues, and wellness facilities including spas, fitness centers and swimming pools.
AccorHotels currently manages 71 hotels (17,300 rooms) in the Middle East, spanning every segment from luxury to economy, in 10 countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
