TORONTO — Following the acquisition of Canadian hotel chain Fairmont Hotels & Resorts last year, AccorHotels is on the fast track to major expansion at a rate of one new hotel opening every 36 hours.

While speaking at the GBTA Conference 2017, which took place in Toronto on May 23-25, Kevin Frid, COO of AccorHotels, discussed the impact of mass brand consolidation and how it resulted in another record year of development for the hotel company. Over the past year, AccorHotels has opened 38,000 rooms across all segments and acquired 43,000 rooms, which represents a record for the Group, and more are on the way – over 920 hotels and 172,000 rooms are in the pipeline.

He said the ramp-up of growth in the luxury hotel segment was driven largely by the acquisition of FRHI, in addition to the expansion of its lifestyle brands with Mama Shelter, the introduction of the new Jo&Joe brand, as well as a strategic partnership with 25hours.

Gaurav Bhushan, Chief Development Officer of AccorHotels, added that over the coming months, AccorHotels plans to “consolidate its global presence and the leadership position secured by the Group in the luxury, resort, lifestyle and private rental segments.”

Sofitel Frankfurt Opera. Credit: Sofitel.

In 2016, key hotel openings include: Sofitel Frankfurt Opera (150 rooms); Pullman San Francisco Bay (421 rooms); Novotel Bali Benoa Hotel (173 rooms); Mercure Krakow Stare Miasto (198 rooms); ibis One Central Dubai (588 rooms); ibis Styles Budapest City (130 rooms); and Pullman Cayo Cayo, Cuba (564 rooms).

In 2017, AccorHotels will welcome to its portfolio: Victoria House MGallery by Sofitel Hotel, London Leicester Square (86 rooms); Fairmont Austin (1,068 rooms); Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour (590 rooms); Rafflest Europejski Warsaw (103 rooms); and the Fairmont Costa Canuva in Riviera Nayarit (250 rooms).

Victoria House MGallery by Sofitel Hotel, London Leicester Square. Credit: Sofitel.

Looking ahead to 2018, 2019, new openings include the 375-room Sofitel Mexico Reforma, the brand’s first hotel in the heart of Mexico City (opening late 2018), and the 394-room Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, currently undergoing a meticulous renovation.

Last summer, AccorHotels Group acquired FRHI and its three prestigious luxury hotel brands: Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel, a move that was said to help generate approximately €65 million in revenue and cost synergies.