Accor Offers Glimpse Into Plans for Ennismore Joint Venture
Photo Credit: Accor's accelerating expansion into the U.S. includes smaller cities (pictured: the rooftop terrace at the 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City). Accor
Skift Take
Is Accor ever going to have the same U.S. portfolio size as Marriott or Hilton? Almost certainly not. But targeted focus on higher-end segments can make the Paris-based hotel company a formidable player on the highly competitive American hotel playing field.
It’s easy to write off Accor as not being much of a force in the U.S., but that could change thanks to its new lifestyle hotel venture.
The Paris-based hotel company has significantly beefed up its North and Central American portfolio, particularly in higher-end segments, thanks to the expansion of brands like Fairmont and introduction of others like Raffles. Accor has also made several acquisitions over the years of U.S. companies and brands like SBE and 21c Museum Hotels. Many of those brands are now parked under a lifestyle hotel joint venture with Ennismore.
With that deal — Accor has a two-thirds stake in the company, which also includes brands like The Hoxton — now closed and settled, the partners see the U.S. as a top target for expansion.
“There's no doubt that the focus for Ennismore in terms of growth is the U.S.,” Philippe Zrihen, head of the Americas for Ennismore, said in an interview with Skift at this week's A
