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Accor has surpassed 150 franchise hotels across Australia and New Zealand, reinforcing its position as the largest hotel franchise network in the Pacific region.
The milestone coincides with the annual Accor Pacific Franchise Conference taking place in Sydney this week, bringing together more than 270 franchise partners, hotel owners, industry leaders and Accor executives to discuss operational performance, market trends and the continued evolution of franchising across the region.
Regional franchise growth
Over the past decade, Accor’s Pacific franchise network has expanded significantly, particularly across regional and suburban markets, supported by demand from owners seeking globally recognised brands, stronger distribution capability, loyalty-driven demand and operational efficiencies delivered through scale.
Accor chief franchise officer premium, midscale and economy division Leire Leoz says the Pacific region has become an important growth market for franchising.
“Franchising is playing an increasingly important role in Accor’s global growth strategy, and the Pacific region is a strong example of that momentum in action.
“We continue to see strong interest from hotel owners seeking flexible operating models that allow them to retain the individuality of their assets while benefiting from the strength, scale and support of a global hospitality leader.”
Flexible operating models
Accor says its franchise strategy supports the Group’s long-term asset-light growth model while strengthening owner partnerships across the Pacific.
The company also continues to operate the region’s largest managed hotel network, offering owners a range of operating models tailored to their business and investment goals.
Accor chief operating officer Pacific Adrian Williams says owner partnerships remain central to the network’s growth.
“Our franchise network today represents a highly collaborative, performance-driven ecosystem built around owner success.
“We continue to see strong demand from hotel owners who want access to Accor’s loyalty, sales and distribution platforms, while retaining the flexibility to run their hotels in a way that reflects their local character and identity.
“Importantly, many of our existing franchise partners continue to grow with us, with around half now owning multiple hotels within the network.”
Brand expansion plans
Regional markets continue to play a key role in franchise growth, particularly as independent hotels seek the benefits of global brand recognition and stronger commercial performance.
Accor will soon introduce its greet brand to the Pacific for the first time, expanding its franchise offering with a conversion-focused hospitality concept aimed at value-conscious travellers.
Accor vice president franchise Pacific Danesh Bamji says demand for flexible franchise models continues to accelerate.
“The franchise landscape across Australia and New Zealand is evolving rapidly as more owners recognise the commercial advantages of partnering with established global hospitality brands.
“We are seeing particularly strong interest in conversion opportunities from independent and regional hotel operators looking to enhance competitiveness while maintaining their local identity.
“The introduction of greet into the Pacific reflects how we are continuing to evolve our franchise offering to meet changing owner and traveller expectations.”
Pacific footprint
Accor currently operates more than 420 hotels across the Pacific region under brands including Sofitel, MGallery, Pullman, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Novotel, Mercure, TRIBE and ibis.
