Massive Expansion Plans for Accor in Vietnam

Accor is embarking on a massive expansion of its hotel portfolio in the fast growing country of Vietnam, with the launch of its upscale Pullman and mid-scale Mercure brands, and the expansion of its well-established Novotel brand.

To support the expansion Accor has just opened in Ho Chi Minh City, its first full representative office in Vietnam. The new office will support and drive the growth of the Accor hotels network from its existing eight hotels to at least twenty hotels by the end of 2010.

Three Pullman hotels are to be developed in Vietnam - two in the country’s northern Lao Cai region and one in Vung Tau. Pullman Lao Cai, Pullman Sapa Resort and Pullman Vung Tau will be among the first internationally branded hotels in two of Vietnam’s rapidly growing tourist regions.

Pullman Sapa Resort (150 rooms) is expected to open in early 2010. It will be in the heart of Sapa town, with views of nearby mountains. The Pullman will comprise villa-style accommodation designed in the style of a village. The use of wood, stone, and bronze metals will ensure the hotel blends in with its natural environment.

Pullman Lao Cai (200 rooms), 260 kilometers northwest of Hanoi, will open in early 2011. It is located between the new city centre and the Lao Cai Train Station that serves the Haiphong Railway, the base for twice-daily train services from Hanoi.

Pullman Vung Tau (360 rooms), is expected to open in early 2010. It is located in the seaside capital city of Ba Ria Province, the petroleum centre of Vietnam. Adjacent to a 2,000 people convention centre, the hotel will become a leading MICE destination outside of Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Michael Issenberg, Accor Asia Pacific Chairman, the opening of these hotels will significantly upgrade the tourism infrastructure in Vietnam and will complement Accor’s already strong presence in Hanoi.

“The Pullman name is already well known in Vietnam as the Metropole Hanoi was a Pullman hotel before we re-branded it to Sofitel in the early 1990s. These three new Pullmans will revive one of the great names in hospitality,” said Issenberg. “With inbound tourism to Vietnam booming and playing an important role in driving the economy, the two new Pullman hotels in Lao Cai and Sapa will meet a growing demand for international standard upscale hotels in northern Vietnam.”

Accor will also develop two Mercure hotels in Hanoi to accommodate the rapid increase in demand for quality mid-scale accommodation.

Mercure Hanoi La Gare (102 rooms) and Mercure Hanoi Hado (380 rooms) will be the first Mercure hotels in Vietnam and the start of a planned development of up to twenty Mercure hotels throughout the country.

Mercure Hanoi La Gare (opening early 2009) will be built on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, near Hanoi’s main corporate area and a short stroll from the Hanoi Train Station. Mercure Hanoi Hado will open early 2010 on Cat Linh Street just across from Hanoi’s famous Temple of Literature. 

Accor also has development plans for its well-established Novotel brand in the economic and standardized scale, with a new Novotel planned for the rapidly emerging tourist destination, Phu Quoc. Accor opened the Grand Mercure La Veranda in 2007, and the Novotel resort Phu Quoc will be located on a beachfront site just five minutes from the Grand Mercure. The 200-room resort developed by Esaco and Long Beach is due for completion in late 2010.

The opening of Novotel Phu Quoc Resort will follow four other significant Novotel openings scheduled for the next two years. Novotel Halong Bay will open in June 2008. Other Novotels to open in Vietnam will be Novotel Nha Trang (late 2008), Novotel Hoi An Imperial Resort (late 2009), and Novotel Hanoi On The Park (2010). They will join Novotels in Dalat and Phan Thiet.

Vietnam – one of Asia’s fastest growing destinations

Vietnam attracted 4.2 million international visitors in 2007, a year-on-year increase of 17.1%, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Tourist arrivals increased by 25.4%, while business travel grew by 13.7% compared to the same period in 2006. The largest feeder markets of Vietnam's tourism include China, South Korea, Japan, and the United States. The VNAT is targeting 6 million international arrivals, 26 million domestic visitors, and tourism revenues of US$4.5 billion in 2010.

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