24 January 2017
Expanded portfolio will continue the Group's fast-paced growth into the region

AccorHotels, one of the world’s leading hotel operators, announced the promotion and appointment of Olivier Granet as Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Granet previously oversaw the Middle East region only as Managing Director & COO based in Dubai.

In his new role, Granet is responsible for AccorHotels’ diverse portfolio of internationally renowned hotels and brands, as well as providing transformative growth for the economy and midscale segments for Middle East and Africa. This includes more than 178 operational hotels with over 40,000 rooms across twenty-eight countries, and more than 160 properties under development.  On average, this effectively translates into two hotel openings a month.

He will also be charged with developing and retaining talent within the organization and more than doubling the number of colleagues to upwards of 50,000 in order to meet the region’s robust growth program.  His purview includes the successful launch of new brands, the adaptation and rollout of innovative products and services, including food and beverage concepts, in addition to Planet 21 sustainability initiatives.

In his former role as Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer for the Middle East, Granet’s major accomplishments included catapulting AccorHotels to become the leading hotel operator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with 20 operational hotels and another 40 in the pipeline, as well as facilitating the integration of FRHI Hotels & Resorts (following the merger in July 2016) within the regional structure.  He also launched development and training academies including a special management program tailor-made for Saudi nationals, which was also the first hospitality program to welcome Saudi women last year, in line with AccorHotels’ global vision on gender equality and diversity in the workplace. 

Since his move to Dubai in 2011, Granet served as Senior Vice President of Development for the Middle East. An 18-year veteran of the hospitality industry, he first 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.

Prior to joining AccorHotels, Granet worked with Deloitte & Touche for ten years, initially as an auditor and later as a Manager in the Corporate Finance Department, holding positions in France and abroad.

He has a degree from the Grenoble Institute of Political Studies (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 88 operational hotels representing over 26,500 rooms in ten countries. AccorHotels’ portfolio spans a wide range of world-class brands ranging from luxury and upscale Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, Pullman, Swissôtel and Majlis Grand Mercure, to midscale Novotel, Mercure, Adagio and economy ibis and ibis styles. 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 world-leading travel & lifestyle group and digital innovator offering unique experiences in more than 4,000 hotels, resorts and residences, as well as in over 2,500 of the finest private homes around the globe. Benefiting from dual expertise as an investor and operator through its HotelServices and HotelInvest divisions, AccorHotels operates in 95 countries.

Its portfolio comprises internationally acclaimed luxury brands including Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel Legend, SO Sofitel, Sofitel, onefinestay, MGallery by Sofitel, Pullman and Swissôtel; as well as the popular midscale and boutique brands of Novotel, Mercure, Mama Shelter and Adagio; the in-demand economy brands including ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget and the regional brands Grand Mercure, The Sebel and hotelF1. With an unmatched collection of brands and a rich history spanning close to five decades, AccorHotels, along with its global team of more than 240,000 dedicated women and men, has a purposeful and heartfelt mission: to make every guest Feel Welcome. Guests enjoy access to one of the world's most rewarding hotel loyalty programs – Le Club AccorHotels.

AccorHotels is active in its local communities and committed to sustainable development and solidarity through PLANET 21, a comprehensive program that brings together employees, guests and partners to drive sustainable growth.

Accor SA is publicly listed with shares trading on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and the OTC marketplace (Code: ACRFY) in the United States.

Press contact:
Aditi Mane
Finsbury
+971 50 738 4146
Aditi.mane@finsbury.com

© Press Release 2017