03 November 2015
New properties catering to the extended-stay segment to be developed over the next five years

AccorHotels, the world's leading hotel operator, has strengthened its partnership with the Alesayi Group, a leading Saudi Arabian conglomerate, with a signature to develop at least 15 new Adagio aparthotels over the next five years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Five of the Adagio aparthotel projects have already been agreed upon and will be developed in Jeddah, Riyadh, Madinah and Jizan, with construction of the first hotel expected to start by the end of 2015.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Jeddah, Jean-Jacques Dessors, Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels Mediterranean, Middle East & Africa, commented: "We are delighted to be partnering once again with Alesayi Group, led by Sheikh Mohammed Omar Kassem Alesayi, who shares our vision and commitment to Saudi Arabia. We look forward to developing our Adagio brand with them and extending our long and fruitful relationship. Saudi Arabia is a key market for us in the Middle East, and we are extremely proud to have 50 hotels committed in the Kingdom."

Sheikh Mohammed Omar Kassem Alesayi, CEO and President of Alesayi Group, a leading Saudi Arabian conglomerate comprising over 60 companies in 18 countries, added: "It was a natural next step for us to extend our relationship with AccorHotels, and to emphasize our commitment to bring branded hospitality facilities, offering quality we can rely on, to the Kingdom. Accor's Adagio is already number one in its class and well-known among Saudi travelers to Europe."

This agreement follows the strategic alliance formed between the two companies for a minimum of 10 ibis hotels in Saudi Arabia, signed in October 2013. Eight ibis hotels have been already secured in key locations in cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Jizan and Al Khobar totaling over 2,000 rooms.

The Adagio aparthotel brand, which was successfully launched last year in the Middle East to complement AccorHotels' extensive regional brand portfolio, is a European leader in the market for medium to long-term stays.

Adagio Aparthotels offer modern and spacious serviced apartments, providing the freedom of a home away from home, with the comfort of traditional midscale hotel services. This typically includes a 24/7 reception desk, lobby café and breakfast lounge, gym, dry cleaning services, space reserved for meetings, as well as a small shop carrying essentials and basic groceries.

So far, AccorHotels has opened four Adagio aparthotels in the UAE and Qatar and has ten others under development in the region.

Dessors concluded: "Since it launched in the region last year, our Adagio brand is proving to be highly popular, and this announcement ensures we are keeping up with demand for more properties in Saudi Arabia."

AccorHotels has a strong presence in Saudi Arabia with 15 properties in operation spanning a wide range of world-class hotel brands, from luxury Sofitel, upscale Pullman and Majlis Grand Mercure, to midscale Novotel, Mercure and the economy ibis. In the pipeline, the Group currently has 32 properties under development across Saudi Arabia, bringing an additional 9,000 rooms and raising AccorHotels' portfolio closer in line with its target of 50 hotels in the Kingdom. In the Middle East, AccorHotels has 125 properties in operation and under development with close to 32,000 rooms.

About Alesayi Group
Alesayi Group was founded 70 years ago and is one of the leading business groups in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The group has been closely in sync with the development of the modern Saudi Arabia Kingdom, and its institutions. Alesayi Group's philosophy is to build upon deep-rooted commitment to traditional values of trust, and social responsibility with a long term commitment to our environment, our society and our country. Today, the group comprises of some 61 companies / subsidiaries; grouped into 6 business sectors, which are Investment Sector, Real Estate & Property Sector, Consumer Trading Sector, Manufacturing Sector, Engineering & Technology Sector, and Service Sector. The group has demonstrated dynamism and innovative spirit, and has succeeded in continuously re-inventing /re-engineering itself to meet the future challenges. A competent Board of Directors leads today's cadres of professional managers.

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 76 operational hotels representing over 18,500 rooms in eleven 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 is 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 3,700 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, Grand Mercure, The Sebel), midscale (Novotel, Suite 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).

About Adigo
Aparthotels Adagio®, No. 1 in Europe, offers modern apartments with a fully equipped kitchen and hotel services in urban locations for extended stays, with tiered pricing for stays of 4 nights onwards. The result of the joint venture formed between AccorHotels and Pierre & Vacances Center Parcs groups in 2007, the brand provides 2 product ranges:

- Adagio: in the air midscale aparthotels at the heart of Europe's leading cities;

- Adagio access: economic range, astute aparthotels located on cities' doorstep. 

The network consists of 100 aparthotels and 10,000 apartments in Europe, and is set to expand to 150 aparthotels and 19,000 apartments worldwide by 2016. All information about Aparthotels Adagio® can be found at: www.adagio-city.com

Press contact:
Grace Chaoui
Finsbury
+971 55 632 9593
grace.chaoui@finsbury.com

© Press Release 2015