For the second year in a row, Accor Hotels was named Best Global Hotel Chain at the TTG Travel Awards for 2016, while Chairman & CEO Sebastien Bazin won the award for Travel Personality of the Year.
With the winners chosen by readers of TTG trade magazines, these awards were the two most coveted gongs at a dazzling ceremony held in Bangkok.
Sebastien Bazin, who flew in from Paris to accept his award, said he was delighted to win.
“This is a wonderful recognition of the success of AccorHotels’ transformation,” he said. “We are moving forward, driving our growth, exploring new businesses and accelerating our global strategy to position the customer experience at the very heart of our initiatives.
“I am very proud to share this award with all the AccorHotels’ teams all over the world, acting every day to deliver the most memorable experience to our millions of customers in our 4000 hotels, resorts and residences as well as in our 2600 finest private homes.”
Bazin, who has served on the AccorHotels board since 2005 and was named Chairman & CEO in August 2013, has been credited with dramatically transforming the Group, initiating a major digital revolution, implementing bold acquisitions including the FRHI network, expanding into new businesses including private home rentals, introducing a new name and vision and opening up AccorHotels’ distribution channels to independent operators, as well as this week announcing a new brand, Jo&Joe that will completely disrupt the usual hospitality codes, blending the best of private-rental, hostel and hotel formats, designed to meet the expectations of millennials and those who value sharing and spontaneity.
. Bazin has not only improved the Group’s financial performance since taking the reins, but has created a new culture that encourages innovation, agility and accountability.
“We picked Mr Sebastien Bazin as our Travel Personality of the Year 2016 because of his bold vision and charismatic leadership, qualities which have transformed AccorHotels into a game-changer in a fast-changing industry,” said Raini Hamdi, Senior Editor TTG Asia Publishing. “Mr. Bazin is an inspiration for thousands of companies today that are seeking ways to be relevant in the face of big disruptions in travel and we salute him for it.”
Michael Issenberg, Chairman & CEO AccorHotels Asia Pacific was also on hand to accept the Group’s award for Best Hotel Chain for the second consecutive year.
“In a service industry such as ours, it is our people who truly make the difference to our guests’ stay,” Mr Issenberg said. “This is very much a team award and great recognition of the hard work, passion and commitment of our teams across the region, so I share this award with all of them.”
AccorHotels is the leading hotel operator in the world with over 4000 hotels and resorts across 95 countries, and 2600 private homes. Its globally renowned brands include Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, onefinestay, MGallery by Sofitel, Pullman, Swissotel, Grand Mercure, The Sebel, Novotel, Mercure, Mama Shelter, Adagio, ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget, HotelF1 and most recently Jo&Joe.
ABOUT ACCORHOTELS
AccorHotels is a world-leading travel & lifestyle group and digital innovator offering unique experiences in more than 4,000 hotels, resorts and residences, as well as in over 2,500 of the finest private homes around the globe. Benefiting from dual expertise as an investor and operator through its HotelServices and HotelInvest divisions, AccorHotels operates in 95 countries. Its portfolio comprises internationally acclaimed luxury brands including Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel LEGEND, SO Sofitel, SOFITEL, onefinestay, MGallery by Sofitel, Pullman, and Swissôtel; as well as the popular midscale and boutique brands of Novotel, Mercure, Mama Shelter and Adagio; the in-demand economy brands including ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budgetand the regional brands Grand Mercure, The Sebel and hotelF1.
With an unmatched collection of brands and rich history spanning close to five decades, AccorHotels, along with its global team of more than 240,000 dedicated women and men, has a purposeful and heartfelt mission: to make every guest Feel Welcome. Guests enjoy access to one of the world’s most rewarding hotel loyalty programs – Le Club AccorHotels.
AccorHotels is active in its local communities and committed to sustainable development and solidarity through PLANET 21, a comprehensive program that brings together employees, guests and partners to drive sustainable growth.