FRENCH hotel group Accor has won the management contracts for five hotels in the Lebanon after joining up with two local companies, Idarat and Ali Ghandour.
With immediate effect, Accor operates two properties under its Sofitel brand – The Gabriel and the Palm Beach in Beirut. Two properties have gone under its Mercure brand – the Berkeley in Hamra, Beirut, and the Beverley Beach on the coast in Juniya. A fifth, the Hotel Albergo in the heart of Beirut, will be unbranded.
In addition, a 150-room Novotel is due to open in Beyrouth at the end of this year and another resort hotel is planned for April 2000.
The chain believes the Lebanon is now ready to welcome back tourism after major investment to repair the damage caused by civil war.
Peter Haigh, international director of sales and marketing, said:”The Lebanon is returning to its former state as a very attractive location – the Riviera of the Middle East. Accor wants to be part of that.”
He said there is huge potential for growth in the Middle East leisure travel market.
Accor is opening five hotels in Egypt, four in Jordan and two in Israel over the next two years under its Sofitel, Novotel and Mercure brands.
It is also keen to expand in North Africa and Mediterranean resort locations.
“North Africa and the Mediterranean are prime areas to focus on for us,” said Haigh.
“We are choosing these locations, rather than French Polynesia, because we believe people prefer the shorter flight times.”