Global hospitality major Accor is eyeing 90 hotels and to become market leader among the international players in the country by 2015, a top company executive has said.
"We are targeting 90 properties, either in operation or development, by 2015. The company, which will have 20 hotels by end of December this year, has 35 properties under construction," Accor Senior Vice President Operations India Jean Michel Casse told PTI here.
Already the market leader in Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Korea, Accor is now aiming to become the leading hospitality group among international players in the country, he said.
The plan is 10 hotels every year till it reaches its target, he said.
Out of its nine global brands, Accor has six in India, including Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, ibis and Hotel Formula1 covering all segments - from budget to luxury.
Even as the company is planning to develop hotels under its luxury brands in the country, its main focus will be expansion in the budget segment, he said.
We see a greater growth opportunity in the economy and middle scale segment. We are planning to focus in this segment in India," Casse said adding that they will focus on management contract and keep it as lean as possible.
"We are looking at opportunities to bring in MGallery (the upscale boutique hotel) to the country that can fit into all kinds of cities with mix clients who prefer leisure. However, nothing is finalised yet," he added.
Accor is already present in Tier I and II cities in India and will eventually slip into the Tier-III cities. "We will now look at opportunities both in the bigger cities as well as in lesser destination and religious sites," he said.
On the current demand supply scenario in India, Casse said in some cities there is a mismatch where supply is more than demand. "However, we are here for the long run and are prepared for this imbalance as I believe that this situation will ease out in a few years," he added.
The company employs over 4,600 people in India across all its properties and will add an additional 2,500 by end of 2013, he said. PTI SM GK RAH mr DKR
RYS