Accor adds hotels in Myanmar

BANGKOK, 14 March 2013: Accor announced Wednesday it has signed off on the development of three new hotels in Myanmar – an MGallery hotel in Naypyidaw the country’s capital, Novotel Yangon Max, and Novotel Mandalay Mingalar.


Myanmar is now the group’s 18th market in the Asia/Pacific region.

Accor a French owned global hotel chain returns to Myanmar after a short stint in the 1990s when it introduced its Novotel brand to Yangon through a management deal. It was forced vacate the country after protestors in Paris accused the group of breaching sanctions imposed by the EU.
 
Last week, Hilton announced it would manage a property in Yangon and another US chain Best Western said it is engaged in negotiations to add hotels in Myanmar to its portfolio.

Accor is the largest international hotel chain operating in Asia with the widest range of brands. Adding Myanmar is major breakthrough for the group that targets 700 properties in Asia Pacific by 2015.

“We are excited to announce the signing of three new hotels in Myanmar – the first of which will open this year – marking Accor’s return to Myanmar,” said Accor Asia-Pacific chairman and chief operating officer, Michael Issenberg. “Southeast Asia has long been a focus market for Accor, and as the country’s tourism industry develops, we see significant growth potential for international hotel operators with long-term experience in the region. These three developments represent yet another step towards our goal of operating 700 hotels in Asia-Pacific by 2015.”
 
“With Myanmar expecting a strong increase in international arrivals this year, we look forward to being a part of the development of the country’s tourism infrastructure,” noted Accor Southeast and Northeast Asia COO, Robert Murray. “We expect business and leisure travellers alike will feel welcome at our iconic MGallery and Novotel branded hotels… Our intention is to lead the way and accelerate the company’s expansion in this dynamic market.”

The upscale MGallery hotel in the heart of Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital city, will be the city’s first international brand hotel.

The property will have 168 rooms, a meeting hall, four meeting rooms, a cigar bar and two dining outlets, including an Italian restaurant. The newly-built property, expected to open, this year, and is located a 15- minute drive from City Hall, Water Park and the Gem Museum, and a 20-minute drive from Naypyidaw International Airport.

In Yangon, the country’s commercial capital, Novotel Yangon Max will be completed by the end of 2013. The 366-room hotel will have three restaurants and a 1,000 sqm banquet room, eight meeting rooms, a swimming pool and wellness centre. The hotel is within walking distance of Shwedagon Pagoda, Bogyoke Aung San Market, Inya Lake, Junction Square Shopping Centre, and a 20-minute drive from Yangon International Airport.

Novotel Mandalay Mingalar will open in 2015. It will  have 280 rooms, two restaurants, two bars, a ballroom, four meeting rooms, a swimming pool, and a wellness centre. It is located near the Maha Muni Pagoda, Mandalay Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery, Mandalay Hill, and a 40-minute drive from Mandalay International Airport.

Mandalay is located 716 km north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River and is the second-largest city in Myanmar.

source: TTR Weekly
http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2013/03/accor-adds-hotels-in-myanmar/