France’s Accor group is to open nine new hotels in China by 2004, in a bid to strengthen its presence in the country’s domestic tourist market.

The scheme will be Accor’s largest expansion in China since it entered the market in 1985.

Accor managing director of Asia Pacific, Michael Issenberg, said the expansion was well-timed: “These new management contracts represent Accor’s biggest expansion in China to date and underline the importance the country holds to the group’s growth worldwide.

“It allows Accor the opportunity to grow its presence in China’s domestic travel network while building our hotel brands with Chinese travellers looking to go abroad.”

Over the next two years, Accor will manage five new Sofitels and two Novotels around the country and will introduce its Ibis brand in Tianjin. The Ibis Tianjin will open in October and will be the first internationally managed budget hotel in China.

The Ibis Chengdu is to open in autumn next year, with a third location yet to be finalised.

Newly released statistics show China is ranked as the second largest outbound market in Asia after Japan, says Accor. “Outbound travel from China is poised to reach 6.32 million travellers during the last six months of 2003. Thailand, Japan and Korea are the favourite destinations for Chinese travellers in Asia, while Germany, France and the UK were top European long-haul holiday choices.”

The company says its expansion in China is built on major partnerships with local groups including Beijing Tourism Group and the Jin Jiang International Management Corporation.

The nine new hotels will bring Accor’s China network to 26 hotels under operation by the end of this year with five more scheduled to open in 2004. Details: www.accor.com