Accor Hotels

Accor was founded in 1967 by Paul Dubrule and Gérard Pélisson, who opened the first Novotel near Lille, France, with a simple idea: a modern, standardised hotel that travellers could trust wherever they found it. That founding vision of reimagining hospitality has driven the group's growth ever since.

From one Novotel to a global portfolio

Over the decades Accor expanded far beyond its founding brand, adding Ibis for the budget segment, Sofitel for luxury, and eventually growing through acquisitions to include heritage names such as Fairmont, Raffles and Mondrian. The ibis family alone grew to more than 1,700 hotels worldwide by 2014.

A portfolio built for every traveller

Accor today operates dozens of brands spanning every segment of the market, supported by shared systems, loyalty programmes and a common culture across the group. Guests and owners benefit from:

• A presence in nearly 100 countries across five continents
• Brands spanning economy, midscale, premium, luxury and lifestyle segments
• The ALL loyalty programme, connecting guests across the entire portfolio
• A long-standing commitment to sustainability, including a pledge to reach carbon net zero by 2050

Explorers at heart

From revolutionising the modern hotel in the 1960s to pioneering new hospitality concepts today, Accor describes itself as a group of explorers that never stops reimagining what hospitality can be, while keeping its people at the centre of that ambition.

Culture

• Heartist: heart plus artist, welcoming with heartfelt passion and encouraging others to do the same
• Diversity in our DNA: an open, inclusive culture across every corner of the globe
• Constantly learning: leading training and development programmes that empower people to fulfil their potential
• Caring for communities: responsibility that extends beyond the hotel walls

Human Resources

Accor's employee promise centres on the belief that hospitality is a work of heart. Team members, known as Heartists, are supported by comprehensive learning programmes and a culture of recognition that has celebrated outstanding performance through its Bernaches Awards since 1989.

• Accor Academy, the world's leading hospitality school, delivering training for more than 40 years
• Clear career pathways from onboarding through to leadership development
• A global community spanning dozens of brands and thousands of hotels