Accor inks alliance with Huazhu for over 2,000 hotels in China

Accor and Huazhu Hotels Group will forge an alliance that gives Le Club Accorhotels members over 1,900 new accommodation choices in China at which to enjoy their usual perks aside earning and redeeming points during their stay.

Atop Accor’s existing 144 Chinese hotels, Huazhu’s range of brands includes Hanting Inns and Hotels, JI, Starway and Joya Hotels, Manxin Hotels and Resorts and Hanting Express, giving the groups over 2,000 locations in China, Mongolia and Taiwan alone.

Once in full swing, 47 million members of the Accor and Huazhu loyalty schemes will have access to over 5,600 hotels across the globe, with cardholders in Huazhu’s loyalty program gaining access to Accor’s wide-ranging network of international hotels.

“This ground-breaking collaboration will leverage the strengths of Accor’s global brands with a leading player in Chinese hospitality,” said Chairman and CEO of Accor Sebastien Bazin.

“This major step is key to our digital transformation as the agreement will link the power of both groups’ reservation and loyalty platforms… (providing) travellers and loyal members more access (to hotels), and more choice.”

As part of the deal, all of Accor’s Grand Mercure, Mercure, Novotel, Ibis and Ibis Styles hotels in China, Mongolia and Taiwan will become part of Huazhu under a master franchise agreement, but will maintain their current identities and loyalty scheme participation.

Between Accor and Huazhu, over 500 new hotels are also in the pipeline for Greater China, with 350 to 400 of those to open under the Accor range of brands in the next five years under Huazhu management.

The partnership remains subject to government approval, which the groups hope to obtain “in an expedited manner”.

Also read: Pick up Le Club Accorhotels Gold status for just $130

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Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.