Sofitel, the prestige brand of Accor hotels, is to open 11 new hotels in 2004.

The group has already opened nine in 2003 and 12 the previous year.

New openings next year include Sofitel Venizia in Isola – situated on its own private, 15-hectare island 10 minutes by boat from St Mark’s Square in Venice – and the Sofitel Wentworth Sydney, Australia. The latter is being transformed out of the existing Sydney Wentworth Hotel and has already completed the first phase of redevelopment having unveiled a new lobby and function centre.

Sofitel will also be opening the Sofitel Seminyak Bali, Sofitel Pelourinho Salvador in Brazil, Sofitel Cancun in Mexico and Sofitel A’Amitie Bamako in Mali as well as several properties in China.