AccorHotels Acquires Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel
Jul 12, 2016, 6:22 am
#1
Company Representative, Fairmont
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: Fairmont Presidents Club
Posts: 16
AccorHotels Acquires Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel
Today marks an exciting new chapter for our company as we join one of the world’s largest global hotel companies, AccorHotels, alongside Raffles Hotels & Resorts & Swissotel Hotels & Resorts. Through this strategic partnership we will experience accelerated growth worldwide and offer our guests, owners and partners access to an unprecedented and diversified portfolio of international travel destinations. Thank you for sharing this special moment with us. (http://bit.ly/29STTMd)
For now, your current membership in Fairmont President’s Club and any upcoming reservations, including reward redemptions, remain unchanged. AccorHotels and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts share the same commitment – to provide you with world-class service and meaningful travel experiences on every stay.
For now, your current membership in Fairmont President’s Club and any upcoming reservations, including reward redemptions, remain unchanged. AccorHotels and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts share the same commitment – to provide you with world-class service and meaningful travel experiences on every stay.
Jul 12, 2016, 7:28 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: Amex Plat CAN
Posts: 90
According to the press release,QIA and KHC are getting shares totalling 16.2% of Accor's share capital and 2 seats on the board of directors.
Colour me cautiously optimistic. That's a lot of control for legacy Fairmont management.
Colour me cautiously optimistic. That's a lot of control for legacy Fairmont management.
Jul 12, 2016, 7:50 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: (SJC)
Posts: 2,198
Fairmont management gets no control. The ownership who were looking for a buyer to give them more ROI, get some control as you mention, they don't really care what happens to the FRHI brands as long as they make money.
Jul 12, 2016, 8:05 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
Also, as a business owner, I would happily take those two board members, and their access to unlimited amounts of money for future growth.
Jul 12, 2016, 11:19 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,232
When might we expect reciprocal benefits at Accor ?
Jul 12, 2016, 11:46 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: (SJC)
Posts: 2,198
Great to see Fairmont and Raffles are considered top of the ladder/luxury tier.
http://www.accorhotels-group.com/upl...c/AHBrandBook/
Inventory already loaded.
http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/booking/map-search.shtml
Based on a thread from the Accor Forum, it seems Le Club will rule as the only loyalty program.
http://www.accorhotels-group.com/upl...c/AHBrandBook/
Inventory already loaded.
http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/booking/map-search.shtml
Based on a thread from the Accor Forum, it seems Le Club will rule as the only loyalty program.
Last edited by AMRivlin; Jul 12, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Jul 12, 2016, 2:07 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
If they mess with Fairmont certificates, I'm going to be pissed.
Jul 12, 2016, 2:12 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
Jul 12, 2016, 2:18 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kirkland, WA
Programs: AS 75K,UA Gold 1.6MM, Hilton Dia, Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Glb, Natl Exec, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,657
My guess is they will let the certificates age out and at some point we will earn based on LeClub. Chase card points will need to transition as well.
Jul 12, 2016, 6:38 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: ASIA
Programs: TK Elite, ALL Plus Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,530
I think what may be interesting to note for the Fairmont President Club members here is the following:
If I understand correctly he served as President and COO of FRHI until 2012 and then moved on to the LV Sands Group.
Talking to various Hotel GMs who have met him, he is a real hotelier and is very much customer focused. With him heading the luxury brands, and having the long FRHI background, I am sure he will keep FPC members' interests in mind.
Chris Cahill appointed as the Group’s CEO Luxury Brands
In support of the acquisition, and as part of AccorHotels’ larger strategy to strengthen its luxury and upscale business, the company has appointed Chris Cahill as the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Luxury Brands. In this newly created role, Chris, who will also become a member of AccorHotels’ Executive Committee, will lead the FRHI integration process and be responsible for the strategy and global operations of AccorHotels Luxury Brands. This new structure will include Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel Legend, So Sofitel, Sofitel, MGallery by Sofitel, Pullman and Swissôtel.
Chris is an experienced hotelier who has led several successful integrations, is familiar with multi-brand management and brings an extensive background in luxury operations, sales and marketing. With more than 30 years of hospitality industry experience, including 19 years working with FRHI and its predecessor companies, Chris is ideally positioned to lead the integration of the Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel brands into the AccorHotels portfolio, and will ensure AccorHotels’ luxury brands grow and prosper. He most recently served as Executive Vice President Global Operations at Las Vegas Sands Corp.
In support of the acquisition, and as part of AccorHotels’ larger strategy to strengthen its luxury and upscale business, the company has appointed Chris Cahill as the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Luxury Brands. In this newly created role, Chris, who will also become a member of AccorHotels’ Executive Committee, will lead the FRHI integration process and be responsible for the strategy and global operations of AccorHotels Luxury Brands. This new structure will include Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel Legend, So Sofitel, Sofitel, MGallery by Sofitel, Pullman and Swissôtel.
Chris is an experienced hotelier who has led several successful integrations, is familiar with multi-brand management and brings an extensive background in luxury operations, sales and marketing. With more than 30 years of hospitality industry experience, including 19 years working with FRHI and its predecessor companies, Chris is ideally positioned to lead the integration of the Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel brands into the AccorHotels portfolio, and will ensure AccorHotels’ luxury brands grow and prosper. He most recently served as Executive Vice President Global Operations at Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Talking to various Hotel GMs who have met him, he is a real hotelier and is very much customer focused. With him heading the luxury brands, and having the long FRHI background, I am sure he will keep FPC members' interests in mind.
Jul 12, 2016, 7:00 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
I wonder what is going to happen to the lifetime platinum Living Social people?
Jul 12, 2016, 8:14 pm
#12
Formerly known as newbie elite
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: YUL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, Accor Platinum, AC50K
Posts: 2,927
Those will be the first to go. Expect to be disappointed by Accor, I am plat in both and they are not comparable at all, actual Fairmont blows club Accor out of the water, and that is not even counting how well you get treated (usually) by the staff at Fairmont's as a plat.
The French have no idea how to run loyalty programs, not in their culture (before the pitchforks come out I am French Canadian and lived in Paris for a decade, I like France). Just ask AF top tier people how their program compares to other airlines, it is not a winning comparison.
Like I said, expect to be disappointed. I hope I am proven wrong.
The French have no idea how to run loyalty programs, not in their culture (before the pitchforks come out I am French Canadian and lived in Paris for a decade, I like France). Just ask AF top tier people how their program compares to other airlines, it is not a winning comparison.
Like I said, expect to be disappointed. I hope I am proven wrong.
Jul 13, 2016, 5:15 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Fairmont Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,041
What we the 113 can do to protect our interests? My hotel reporter at USA Today moved on to greener pastures...Anyone?
Jul 13, 2016, 5:35 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: Accor ALL Diamond, AC Aeroplan 25K, Nexus/GE
Posts: 2,732
It could just be coincidental timing, but I noticed the Swissôtel Métropole Geneva, disappeared from the Swissotel website recently. I stayed there last summer, and a couple of days ago I was looking to make a booking for a return stay. I couldn't find any web presence for them, other than article that said as of July 1 they are under the management of the City of Geneva (who were always the owners of that property).
I called the property directly, and they confirmed they are now operating independently. They seem to have joined the Preferred Hotels & Resorts group of independent hotels. Perhaps they didn't want to join Accor, or maybe they were breaking away anyway?
I called the property directly, and they confirmed they are now operating independently. They seem to have joined the Preferred Hotels & Resorts group of independent hotels. Perhaps they didn't want to join Accor, or maybe they were breaking away anyway?
Jul 13, 2016, 2:32 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AC SE100K, AA EXP, SPG Plt, HH Dmnd
Posts: 1,507
Those will be the first to go. Expect to be disappointed by Accor, I am plat in both and they are not comparable at all, actual Fairmont blows club Accor out of the water, and that is not even counting how well you get treated (usually) by the staff at Fairmont's as a plat.
The French have no idea how to run loyalty programs, not in their culture (before the pitchforks come out I am French Canadian and lived in Paris for a decade, I like France). Just ask AF top tier people how their program compares to other airlines, it is not a winning comparison.
Like I said, expect to be disappointed. I hope I am proven wrong.
The French have no idea how to run loyalty programs, not in their culture (before the pitchforks come out I am French Canadian and lived in Paris for a decade, I like France). Just ask AF top tier people how their program compares to other airlines, it is not a winning comparison.
Like I said, expect to be disappointed. I hope I am proven wrong.