Pullman Hotels for Vietnam

Following the launch of the Pullman hotel brand in late 2007, Accor haveannounced that two Pullman hotels would be developed in the country's northern Lao Cai region, famous for the Hoang Lien Mountains and hill tribes of Sapa, and another would be developed in the major port city of Vung Tau Pullman Lao Cai (200 rooms) and Pullman Resort Sapa (150 rooms) will be the first internationally branded hotels in northern Vietnam's rapidly growing tourist regions.

Lao Cai borders the Chinese city of Hekou in Yunnan province and will serve as an important stop over on the future Kunming-Hanoi highway, currently being financed by the Asia Development Bank. It lies at the junction of the Red River and the Nam Ti River and is 260 kilometers northwest of Hanoi.

Pullman Lao Cai will open in early 2011 between the new city centre and the Lao Cai Train Station that serves the Haiphong Railway, which is the base for twice-daily train services from Hanoi.

Pullman Resort Sapa is expected to join the network in early 2010. The 100 room resort 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 Vung Tau (360 rooms), is expected to open in early 2010. It is located in the capital city of Ba Ria Province, Vietnam's busiest port and the petroleum centre of Vietnam. The hotel will be developed adjacent to a 2,000 people convention centre, and the complex is set become the leading MICE destination outside of Ho Chi Minh City.

The Pullman hotel brand has been created as a result of Accor's drive to reposition its brands, which will in particular elevate Sofitel into the luxury segment. This strategy has created the opportunity to launch Pullman as a new brand of hotels clearly positioned in the upscale segment'

Accor Asia Pacific Chairman, Michael Issenberg, said that the development of the hotels would significantly upgrade the tourism infrastructure in the north of Vietnam and would complement Accor's already strong presence in Hanoi, the main transit point for tourists visiting Sapa and Vung Tau.

Mercure to Launch in Vietnam with Two Hanoi Hotels

In a major push to support the development of tourism infrastructure in Vietnam, Accor announced that it will develop two Mercure hotels in Hanoi to accommodate the rapid increase in demand for quality 4-star accommodation.
Mercure La Gare Hanoi (102 rooms) and Mercure Hado Hanoi (400 rooms) will be the first Mercure hotels in Vietnam and the start of a planned development of up to 20 Mercure hotels throughout the country.

Mercure La Gare Hanoi (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 Hado Hanoi will open early 2010 on Cat Linh St just across from Hanoi's famous Temple of Literature.

New Era for Novotel in Vietnam

Accor announced a major expansion of its well-established Novotel brand with a new Novotel planned for the rapidly emerging tourist destination, Phu Quoc. Accor was the pioneering international hotel group on Phu Quoc when it launched the Grand Mercure La Veranda in 2007, and the Novotel Resort 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 Resort Phu Quoc will follow four other significant Novotel openings scheduled for the next two years. Novotel Halong Bay will open in June 2008 and will be the first international hotel in the world-renowned tourist destination.

Other Novotels to open will be Novotel Nha Trang (late 2008), Novotel Imperial Hoi An Resort (late 2009) and Novotel Reunification Park Hanoi (2010). They will join Novotels in Dalat and Phan Thiet.