Accor and joint venture partner Ennismore have announced plans to open more than 1,000 properties under the Jo and Joe brand in China.
The firms have entered into a long-term master franchise agreement with Country Garden’s core alliance enterprise, Funyard Hotels and Resorts, which will see more than 100,000 rooms added across “at least” 1,300 Jo and Joe properties in the country.
The brand was launched in 2016, and is described as a hybrid accommodation concept blending “the best of private-rental, hostel and hotel formats”.
Current Jo and Joe locations include France, Austria, Colombia, and Brazil, with Jo and Joe Paris Nation having opened in summer 2021.
Initial Chinese locations for the brand are set to be announced this year, with further updates expected to be provided by the summer.
Accor currently operates around 500 hotels in greater China, which provides some context as to the scale of this new agreement.
Gaurav Bhushan, Co-CEO of Ennismore, said that “Globally, the lifestyle segment is generating robust interest and has a strong growth trajectory”, while Gary Rosen, CEO, Accor Greater China, commented:
“Alongside Ennismore, Country Garden’s core alliance enterprise Funyard, Accor will create a new kind of travel experience, with unconventional, uplifting, and environmentally-conscious hotels that welcome visiting guests and neighbourhood locals, mixing personalities, ideas and talent to fully express the heart and soul of the Jo and Joe brand experience.
“Accor is already experiencing record growth in Greater China and our newly formed partnership with Funyard continues to accelerate our leadership position in lifestyle hospitality. We are thrilled to be joining forces with Funyard, which already has a strong presence in the market.”
