European hotel group Accor will become the first international hotel operator in Iran for nearly four decades as the country looks to end economic sanctions.
It will operate two hotels – the 296-room Novotel Ikia and 196-room Ibis Ikia at Imam Khomeini International Airport starting from next month.
"Since the positive events of July [this year] we now feel it is the right time to start moving to Iran and develop our business there," said Christophe Landais, Accor COO for the Middle East.
Iran agreed a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action following talks over its nuclear program although sanctions are unlikely to be lifted until sometime next year.
"Hotel development takes time, and it is never too soon to begin exploring a new market with such high potential as we believe Iran clearly demonstrates," said Landais.
"We see tremendous opportunity for growth in Iran, as there is now a crucial need to rejuvenate the hospitality industry to international standards and build and develop more hotels throughout this large market."
International hotel chains, along with most western businesses, pulled out of the country after the Islamic revolution in 1979.
Accor has stolen a march of Middle East hotel group Rotana which is planning to operate four hotels in Iran by 2018.
Emirates recently began flying to Iran’s second-largest city, Mashhad and also flies to Tehran, as do Etihad Airways, flydubai and Air Arabia.
The country has a surprisingly resilient tourism industry despite the sanctions and received 4.8 million tourists in 2014
