Accor to enter Bangladesh

Accor has signed its first hotels in Bangladesh – its 17th Asia Pacific market.

The European hotel company has penned management deals for two new-build Novotel properties in the country’s two main cities, Dhaka and Chittagong, adding more than 350 rooms to the country’s inventory.

“We see Bangladesh as a tremendous opportunity for expansion, given the country’s growing manufacturing presence in the region,” said Michael Issenberg, Chairman & Chief Operating Officer of Accor Asia Pacific. “Dhaka and Chittagong… have been the driving force behind much of the recent growth and serve as gateways to the country for business travellers. We are committed to offering our customers more choice in consistently high quality accommodation in the region.”

Novotel Dhaka Gulshan Avenue will be located in Dhaka’s Gulshan business and diplomatic and will offer 185 rooms, two restaurants, a bar, swimming pool and gymnasium. The 170-room Novotel Chittagong meanwhile, will be located in the centre of the port city, occupying floors 5-10 of a mixed-used development. Facilities will include three F&B outlets, a swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna and spa.

“We are positive in our outlook for the future of the group in the region, and especially in South Asia,” said Issenberg. “We are well on track to achieving our target of operating 700 hotels across Asia Pacific by 2015, which includes a targeted network size of around 90 hotels in South Asia.”

By Mark Elliott, 6 November 2012, Tuesday 6:51 AM