Accor joins China Southern Airlines' Sky Pearl Club

Accor has joined China Southern Airlines’ Sky Pearl Club Frequent Flier Programme (FFP), with members eligible for mileage points for stays at all Accor hotels worldwide.

Over 3.2 million Sky Pearl Club members can then use mileage accrued or reward points for future stays at Accor hotels. Sky Pearl Club members receive 800 bonus miles for each stay at Sofitel hotels and 400 miles for every stay at Accor’s Grand Mercure, Novotel or Mercure hotels.

Accor now participates in 17 airline frequent flier programmes on a regional or worldwide basis, including Cathay Pacific and Air Macau in southern China. This FFP agreement marks the first co-operation between Accor and China Southern Airlines.

Accor Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing – Asia Pacific Ray Stone, said the FFP agreement provides a unique marketing platform for Accor’s fast expanding hotel network, and will help build awareness about its hotel brands both in mainland China and overseas.

“We are delighted to join China Southern Airlines’ Sky Pearl Club as this is a historic agreement for Accor. It is the first time the group has participated in a mainland airline’s frequent flier programme, and its large membership will help us raise the profile of our hotel brands with Chinese travellers,” Mr Stone, said.

“Accor believes this is a significant step in what we hope will be a growing partnership in the years to come. There will be significant benefits for both companies as we develop our networks throughout China and internationally.”

Accor currently has 34 hotels in China under its Sofitel, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure and Ibis brands. They are located in key commercial and leisure centres around greater China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan Island, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Xian, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xiamen and Shenzhen.

China Southern Airlines flies to more than 80 cities in China and overseas. Based in Guangzhou, its services all major domestic destinations including Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuhan. Its current international route network includes Amsterdam, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Moscow, Osaka, Paris, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

China Southern Airlines is one of mainland China's three biggest carriers, reporting this month that it carried 4.2 million passengers in April 2006, up 14% from the same month last year.

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