The French group Accor, a world leader in hospitality, is targeting an expansion in Romania over the next 3-5 years. The group also aims to bring two new brands to the local market.
In Romania, Accor Group has been present for about 30 years with brands such as ibis, ibis Styles, Mercure, Novotel, and Pullman, operating 21 hotels with approximately 2,200 rooms. “Romania has very high potential for the Accor group. The plan is to reach 50 properties in Romania in the next 3-5 years and, why not, even 80. We want to bring new brands. This year and next year, we will bring the Handwritten and Tribe brands to the Romanian market,” stated Patrick Mendes, CEO of Accor Group for Europe and North Africa.
The group expanded its portfolio with five new hotels in 2023, adding 395 rooms and marking a 22% growth. Among the inaugurations were Mercure Sibiu Arsenal, ibis Styles Pitești Argeș, ibis Styles Bucharest Airport, and Mercure Conacul Cozieni.
By the end of the year, Accor will also inaugurate Swissotel Poiana Brașov, and it recently opened ibis Styles Venus on the Romanian seaside.
“It is possible to see other openings by the end of the year as a result of advanced negotiations with various owners and investors in Romania,” Patrick Mendes added.
Romania is also the second country in Eastern Europe in terms of the number of rooms owned and revenue for the Accor group, following Poland.
“In the next 5 years, Romania will reach the same level as Poland, where we already have 80 hotels in operation, and the plan is to open 10 more. In Romania as well, we could reach 80 hotels in the next 5 years,” he specified.
Patrick Mendes also states that the strong expansion targeted by Accor comes against the backdrop of a lack of international operators on the local market and the very high number of existing independent hotels.
Accor Group reported a record EBITDA in 2023 that exceeded 1 billion euros, along with a 23% increase in revenue per available room compared to the previous year. In 2024, Accor aims to maintain sustainable growth and focuses on expanding its portfolio and optimizing operations. This perspective is supported by the anticipated growth of the tourism sector, with forecasts estimating 1.5 billion international travelers in 2024.
Globally, the Accor group is present with its 45 brands in 110 countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What new hotel brands is Accor bringing to Romania?
Accor plans to introduce the Handwritten and Tribe brands to the Romanian market between 2024 and 2025.
What are Accor’s long-term growth objectives in Romania?
The group aims to expand its current portfolio of 21 hotels to 50 properties within the next 3-5 years, with a potential long-term goal of 80 hotels.
How did Accor Group perform financially in 2023?
The group achieved a record EBITDA of over 1 billion euros and saw a 23% year-over-year increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR).