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Former head of Development for the region will continue the Group's fast-paced regional expansion
AccorHotels, the world's leading hotel operator, today announced the appointment of Olivier Granet as its new Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer for the Middle East, effective immediately. Mr Granet was previously Senior Vice President of Development at AccorHotels Middle East.
A 16-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Mr Granet joined AccorHotels in 1999 as Chief Financial Officer for Central Europe, and was later successively appointed to the roles of Vice President, Corporate Finance, and Senior Vice President, Strategy. Since moving to Dubai in 2011 to head up AccorHotels' regional Development team, Mr Granet has overseen the signing of over 70 new partnership agreements across the region; reaching a rate of one new signature every two weeks.
Mr Granet succeeds Christophe Landais, who held the position for over 15 years; growing the Group's regional portfolio from nine hotels in 2000 to 71 properties in operation by the end of 2015. Mr Landais will now be responsible for AccorHotels' new mission in Iran, where the Group is planning a nation-wide expansion after becoming the first international hotel group to operate in the country following the recent opening of its first two hotels in Tehran in the last quarter of 2015.
Commenting on the transition and new appointment, Jean-Jacques Dessors, Chief Executive Officer of AccorHotels Mediterranean, Middle-East and Africa (MMEA), said: "Since he moved to our Dubai office in 2011, Olivier has demonstrated his ability to accelerate the development of this crucial region for the Group, developed an extensive network of new partners, and gained the trust of our existing partners. Having been with AccorHotels in Europe for over a decade and then based in the Middle East for five years, he brings to the role a unique combination of strong on-the-ground experience built upon a global outlook.
"I would like to thank Christophe Landais for his 15-year tenure as Middle East COO, which has not only shaped our entire regional operations but ensured our positioning as the leading and fastest-growing hotel group in the region. He will now get to do the same for AccorHotels in Iran." he added.
Olivier Granet, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels Middle East, said: "I am very excited to be stepping into this role at such an eventful time for AccorHotels in the Middle East. I look forward to overseeing our diverse portfolio of internationally renowned luxury, midscale and economy hotels with the support of our extremely committed team. Together, we are focused on delivering value to our partners while providing high quality hospitality services to the satisfaction of our guests. I am delighted to continue the rapid pace of our growth and cannot wait to contribute to the further expansion of our regional footprint."
AccorHotels' portfolio in the Middle East includes over 70 operational hotels with close to 18,000 rooms in ten countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. In the pipeline, the Group currently has 55 properties under development bringing an additional 15,000 rooms to the Middle East.
Prior to joining AccorHotels, Mr Granet worked in auditing and consulting with Deloitte & Touche for ten years. He holds a degree from Sciences-Po Grenoble and an MBA from ESSEC Business School in Paris.
ABOUT ACCORHOTELS MIDDLE EAST
AccorHotels Middle East is one of the fastest growing hospitality groups in the Middle East. Currently, the Group's regional portfolio includes a total of 71 operational hotels representing close to 18,000 rooms in ten countries. Among the existing global brands ranging from Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure and ibis, new brands such as Adagio and ibis Styles are emerging as strong players in the region. With over 25 years of regional experience, AccorHotels Middle East was the first to establish a training academy. Dubbed as Tamheed - AccorHotels Académie Middle East, the training facility is dedicated to educating and preparing associates at all levels and ensuring optimal career development.
ABOUT ACCORHOTELS
AccorHotels is a Group united by a shared passion for hospitality and driven by a shared promise to make everyone Feel Welcome.
Over 180,000 women and men in 3,800 AccorHotels establishments look after thousands of guests every day in 92 countries.
AccorHotels is the world's leading hotel operator and offers its customers, partners and employees:
- Its dual expertise as a hotel operator and franchisor (HotelServices) and a hotel owner and investor (HotelInvest);
- A large portfolio of internationally renowned brands covering the full spectrum, with luxury (Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery by Sofitel, Grand Mercure, The Sebel), midscale (Novotel, Mercure, Mama Shelter, Adagio) economy (ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget, adagio access and hotelF1) establishments;
- A powerful marketplace and loyalty program: Le Club AccorHotels
- Almost half a century of commitment to corporate citizenship and solidarity with the PLANET 21 program.
Accor SA shares are listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and traded in the USA on the OTC marketplace (Code: ACRFY)
Press contact:
Grace Chaoui
Finsbury
+971 55 632 9593
grace.chaoui@finsbury.com
© Press Release 2016
