Accor celebrates its Sino-French heritage with Our Water dialogue in Shanghai and Paris.
Shanghai, the enchanting capital of the East, charming visitors with a swirling mix of modernity and old-world elegance, an electric pace of commerce and peaceful moments of bliss. Across the ocean, Paris, the thrumming heart of the West, providing generations of inspiration for avant-garde culture and romance.
Two soulful cities whose stories are inextricable from the iconic rivers that flow through their midst - in Paris, the Seine and in Shanghai, the Suzhou Creek that merges into the Huangpu River. These waterways were the genesis of each city, connecting people, travelers, and trade. The cities grew around them while their destinies, characters, and prosperity were shaped by the powerful rivers that inspired them.
Two world-class cities that have also been intrinsic to the heritage and progress of Accor. Paris, the founding and global headquarters of Accor since the 1960s; and Shanghai, the head office of Accor Greater China since the 1980s.
With so much history and significance, Accor was keen to participate in the Our Water 2023-2024 Dialogue, Shanghai x Paris. As part of a five-year, multi-city series led by the Information Office of the Municipality of Shanghai, the first season of Our Water focused on the relationship, commonalities, and opportunities between Shanghai and Paris, with emphasis on riverside governance and waterfront development along the Suzhou Creek and the Seine.
The series of cross-cultural exchanges between Shanghai and Paris representatives began in September 2023, and recently culminated at the Palais Brongniart, Paris, on April 18 2024, with a theme of 'Our Water: To A Boundless Future'. Participants included government officials, artists, writers, scholars, and business leaders engaged in discussions around urban renewal, ecological governance, sustainable development, and cultural innovation.
Our rivers and waterways provide connection - not only between places, but between cultures, civilizations, and people. As a global hospitality leader headquartered in Paris, with our Greater China team based in Shanghai, and an ever-growing presence of hotels welcoming visitors to both cities, Accor a vested interest in keeping our riverside communities healthy and flourishing. We have been especially pleased to take part in the Our Water - Shanghai x Paris series this year, as China and France celebrate our longstanding relationship together, embracing our shared values for a world enriched by diversity, peace, and sustainability.
Gary Rosen, CEO, Accor Greater China, at the Paris Forum
As the leading French hospitality group in China, the Shanghai x Paris segment of Our Water comes at a particularly relevant time for Accor. 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. It is also the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, as well as the 60th anniversary of Sofitel Hotels & Resorts - the world's first international luxury hotel brand originating from France, and Accor's ambassador of modern French style and art-de-vivre around the world.
Sofitel has a strong appeal among Chinese travelers, who appreciate its refined sense of modern luxury and its masterful blending of Chinese and French cultures in a beautiful and harmonious way. Sofitel destinations are hosting multiple Sino-French celebrations and engaging in unique partnerships throughout the year to bring authentic cultural and entertaining experiences to its guests, featuring the arts, food & wine, and more.
The upcoming Olympic & Paralympic Games Paris 2024 presents yet another opportunity for meaningful Sino-French exchange this year. As an Official Sponsor, Accor's presence at the Games reflects the company's vision and commitment to experience-based hospitality. Across Paris, Accor's hotel teams will be eagerly welcoming Chinese guests and enthusiastic ALL-Accor Live Limitless members for an unforgettable Olympic experience.
The Our Water 2023-2024 Intercultural Dialogue, Shanghai x Paris perfectly aligns with Accor's support for the preservation of natural resources and the environment in each of its destinations. As an industry leader and pioneer in sustainable hospitality, Accor hascommitted to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement and engaging in absolute reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Accor's approach builds on its commitment to contribute to a 'Nature Positive' world, acting to preserve and use natural resources more responsibly, continuing to anchor its hotels in their local ecosystems, and protecting natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
For more than 40 years, Accor has based its Chinese team in Shanghai where it actively partners with China's leading companies to further the development and sustainability of the hospitality industry. Over the years, several Sino-French collaborations have been supportive of these efforts. In 2019, Accor signed a strategic partnership with Alibaba at the China France Economic Summit; and in 2023, Accor and Jin Jiang signed a hospitality sustainability partnership at the fifth meeting of the Council of China-France Entrepreneurs. Both signing events were held in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
It was clear to Accor even in 1985 that Shanghai would play a pivotal role among the Chinese tourism market and to this day it continues to be one of Accor's top priority markets, said Mr. Rosen. Shanghai is an ideal home base for Accor in Greater China. Shanghai is where we test our ideas, pilot our initiatives, and gather our teams. Shanghai is also quite often the first point of entry for visitors to China, a gateway to all that the country has to offer. It is a great honor to welcome these guests to our hotels across Shanghai, giving them a warm first impression of the city.
Accor's presence in Shanghaicontinues to deepen, thanks to having one of the most diverse brand portfolios in the world. Presently, Accor has more than 50 Accor hotels in Shanghai, under world-renowned brands such as Fairmont, Sofitel, Pullman, Swissotel, Grand Mercure, Handwritten, Novotel, Mercure, ibis, and ibis Styles. With a strong development pipeline, the next few years will bring many more Accor hotels to fruition, including more Sino-French collaborations such as Sofitel Shanghai North Bund (in May 2024) and Sofitel Shanghai South Hotel (in 2025).
Accor continues to support Shanghai's ambitious plans for growth, by further developing and growing our existing hospitality brands, by continuing to introduce new brands into this dynamic market, and by leveraging our Sino-French heritage, said Mr. Rosen. We will also continue to make hospitality experiences for Chinese travelers exciting and innovative with more digital capabilities, enhancements to our lifestyle loyalty program ALL - Accor Live Limitless, and leading the hospitality industry with our ESG commitments and sustainability initiatives. We like to say that hospitality is a blessed industry, and at Accor we feel especially fortunate to be rooted in both the French and Chinese cultures, it really is the best of both worlds.
About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group
Accor is a world leading hospitality group offering experiences across more than 110 countries in 5,500 properties, 10,000 food & beverage venues, wellness facilities or flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing more than 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. Accor is committed to taking positive action in terms of business ethics & integrity, responsible tourism, sustainable development, community outreach, and diversity & inclusion. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit www.group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
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