Accor plans to operate 300 hotels in the UK by 2018.
The French group currently has 208 properties open for business and has set a target of opening a further 92 in the next four years.
Thomas Dubaere, managing director of Accor UK & Ireland, told Business Traveller that the majority of these new openings will be Ibis Styles and Mercure hotels.
Accor's Thomas Dubaere in front of the Trocadero, in which an Ibis Styles property will open in 2017
He said: "Today we have 208 hotels [in the UK] over the economy, mid-scale, upscale and luxury segments and we operate ten different brands...
"By 2018, we want to hit a target of 300 hotels in the UK. The main development will be in economy and mid-scale properties, with Ibis Styles in economy and Mercure in mid-scale. These are the brands that are going to grow the most in volume.
"We are also looking at Pullman and MGallery [growth], but because of the specificity of the brands we're not going for volume, more for the right location for those brands. The same goes for Sofitel and Novotel."
Accor yesterday announced it will open two central London hotels — Ibis Styles Piccadilly Circus in 2017 and MGallery Leicester Square in 2016 (see news, September 11).
And, in June, the group revealed it will open two extended stay Adagio aparthotels in London by 2018 (see news, June 27).
Graham Smith
