SHANGHAI – Accor has launched a franchise development model to support the growth of the ibis brand in China.
Together with the existing ownership and leased model it will grow the ibis network into new locations throughout China.
Four initial franchise agreements have been signed, with up to 15 agreements anticipated to be closed during 2010.
The first two of these franchise hotels will open this, both in city centre locations of Shanghai.
Gilles Larrivé, senior vice president of ibis Asia, said the launch of the franchise-operating model was an important step in the brand’s growth strategy.
Within the scope of franchise agreement, the hotel owner holds the property while ibis provides through a 10- year agreement, a broad array of hotel management skills and services.
“The ibis hotel brand continues to form a significant part of Accor’s’ expansion in Asia Pacific and around the world,” says Michael Issenberg, Chairman and Chief Operating Office for Accor Asia Pacific.
In 1974, the first hotel was opened under the ibis name and today the brand opens around one hotel every week. The current global network consists of 861 hotels in 45 countries.
