With 30 new properties to be developed in the near future, encompassing a total of 8,247 rooms, Accor is set to triple its managed properties in the Middle East by 2010. .

Accor officials reported that in 2006, Accor Middle East signed 15 new projects, with a total of 4,510 rooms under four of its international brands - Ibis, Novotel, Mercure and, Sofitel, spanning the UAE, Oman, Jordan, and Pakistan.

Significant focus is on the UAE where 66% of the potential projects have been signed. These will include 5 business economy hotels with 1,382 rooms under the Ibis brand and 5 upper mid-scale hotels with 1,943 rooms under the Novotel flag, with each Novotel room Designed for Natural Living, in keeping with the brand's strategy.

Novotel's new concept of 'natural living' positions the hotel chain in line with its contemporary vision of ensuring 'ultimate wellness' or a staying experience that makes a guest feel completely in sync with his or her environment.

Another significant project is the 235 rooms Mercure Manazel Al Ain scheduled to open in August 2007. Accor has two further capital projects currently under construction which are Novotel Al Anoud and Sofitel Al Khobar.

Novotel Al Anoud is located in the heart of Riyadh and is scheduled to open by October 2007. The project belongs to the Royal family of KSA and is of particular interest as the profit is earmarked for a charitable foundation (Princess Al Anoud Foundation). Sofitel Al Khobar, with 235 luxurious rooms overlooking the sea and is set to open by end of 2007.

Accor in KSA, in cooperation with the Saudi Supreme Commission of Tourism and higher Government authorities of the Kingdom have initiated the establishment and management of several hotels schools and a MOU is already signed for 3 such schools in Riyadh, Taif and Hofuf.

In 2007, Accor will open 6 new properties varying between upper up-scale, upper mid-scale and economy hotels, in the Middle East, as follows:

Upper up-scale

Sofitel Al Gezirah in Cairo, Egypt - 383 rooms - June 2007
The Palace - The Old Town in Dubai, UAE - 244 rooms - July 2007
Sofitel Al Khobar in Al Khobar, KSA - 229 rooms - October 2007

Upper mid-scale

Novotel Al Anoud, Riyadh, KSA - 167 rooms - September 2007
Mercure Karachi Airport, Karachi, Pakistan - 228 rooms- April 2007

Economy

Ibis Salmiya, Kuwait - 175 rooms - September 2007

Accor currently represents a wide range of internationally acclaimed hotel brands that are well recognized and suit varying budgets. With the fast paced development planned for the future, the group promises to better match the increasing needs of the rapidly growing travel and tourism industry across the world.