JTCz

This is a tough market, with Scandic gobbling up all they can and new capacity being added almost exclusively by Nordic Choice. I guess Accor might be waiting for either of them to sell the lot, not sure they can satisfy EQT's appetite.

Otherwise, supply is scant, demand grows only slightly meriting only minimal investment in new supply and expensive labour means both operating and renovating hotels makes for harder business cases then in southern continental Europe or the UK. So it's a fight between the heavyweights for the best properties and a number of run-down ones that Accor would pretty much have to buy and refurbish on their own dime.

A huge share of the demand is generated by travellers from within Nordic countries. Norway, Sweden and Finland are vast and sparsely populated compared to most European countries, so going to a different city often requires staying overnight, and the countries are economically integrated with each other much tighter then the rest of the EU, resulting in the vast majority of business travel being intra-Nordic. This in turn means that a hotel chain with any appeal to the majority of hotel regulars must have great coverage of the region, not only the four capitals, but also remote regional cities. So demand for Accor-branded properties would come almost exclusively from outside the region unless they invested in a major rollout / acquisition.

patrickw

Completely agree. Accor's presence has become minimal after more than 10 hotels in Sweden left at the same time a few years ago, but they are not the only hotel chain that has hole in the area. Hilton has only 5 (3 in Helsinki), IHG has 8 (6 in Helsinki), Marriott+Starwood has 12 (8+4, 7 in Stockholm). The only chains besides Scandic/ Nordic Choice that has meaningful coverage is Radisson Blu which has root from the area and surprisingly Best Western.

virtualaris

Just checked that there would be comeback by Sofitel in Jakarta; Sofitel So Mega Kuningan (Probably would be opened at the end of 2018 or 2019). Currently, there is no Sofitel in Jakarta and the whole Java Island after the Sofitel Gran Mahakam in Jakarta leaving the chain in 2009.
Sofitel So Jakarta

Majapahit Hotel in Surabaya would be also rebranded to Sofitel within this year; so there will be two Sofitels in Java island.

lingua101

I thought Gran Mahakam is not really a Sofitel brand right. It was Gran Mahakam managed by Sofitel (I did manage to find the old email when I stayed with them in 2008.

Will the Majapahit Hotel open as Sofitel Legend?

JTCz

The other Swedish hotels did not as much leave as the contract between Accor and the operator, Ligula, was dissolved. I believe they did not want to work with each other any longer as Ligula's properties (now traing under the proprietary "Good Morning" brand) were substandard to current Ibis formats (or even Mercure, as the former football dorm in Malmo traded as Mercure!). The Novotel Gothenburg left later, presumably because the brand added little to their trade due to little coverage in the region.

An interesting note - Scandic Hotels was a subsidiary of Hilton's in the early 2000s, only dropping the franchise gradually when current owners EQT took over from Hilton. The remaining Hiltons in Scandinavia were ones that were excluded from the latter transaction. Scandic also just took over Finland's Restel's hotel business, which means not only the rebranding of Cumulus hotels, but also possibly the Finnish Holiday Inns once their franchise agreements lapse.

Best Western is popular because they are the perfect choice for properties that would find it hard to maintain any international chain's standard. If your property is in a good location / condition, Scandic or Nordic Choice will be happy to have you join them, so what is left are individual hotels that have found themselves outside of prime locations and/or past their prime in terms of FF&E (and the general structure being often substandard).

Apart from Radisson, Carlson also operates a robust network of Park Inns across the region, but their focus has been more on making sure they have an even coverage in markets new to the chain and outside their core markets of US and Nordics, which they IMHO succeeded at. Perhaps HNA's troubles would mean they'd be in the market again, making some strategic sense to Accor not only due to their Nordic coverage, but more importantly the massive boost in North American coverage, but this would be a nightmare if Accor suddenly acquired that many more brands.

markis10

Sebel Brisbane Margate Beach

sycokid

gilbertaue

AccorHotels Tapped to Manage Thai Resort | Global Traveler

Novotel Chiang Mai Nimman Journeyhub is already under construction, expected to be ready for opening in 2019 with 200 rooms.

gilbertaue

Swissôtel Jakarta PIK Avenue opening in 2019.

GM is Alexander Poindl. Ex GM of Pullman Thamrin.
Would be the closest, new build, Luxury Hotel to CGK Airport once open.

(PIK Avenue already has a Mercure)

Firsttime4me2

I quite like the Mercure PIK they have treated us very well in the past, and are very handy for family visits, we have another stay booked there in February. Will look forward to the a choice to try though.

starflyergold

Accor Signs First Swissôtel in Indonesia

kaizen7

VladQ

Sofitel is now managing the former Le Meridien Tahiti: https://www.thehotelconversation.com...tel/1539559558. It's available for booking on the Accor site/app, but I am puzzled why their room rates for December dates are higher than those for Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora bungalows.

barracuda93

It’s a bad pick of the area, too far from anything. Also there is JW, which is quite competitively priced.

Kobetraveller

Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur Managed by Banyan Tree

Playing around with December dates for KL using the Accor App it appears that the first date that this hotel is available for booking is 21 December 2018.

However this hotel is not participating in Le Club. Hopefully next year.

Very nice photos, and central location.