Accor plans six new hotels

Accor's chief operation officer for the Asia-Pacific, Michael Issenberg, said the local MGallery will be in Siam Square with 154 rooms, using a boutique hotel concept.

Accor is now focusing on developing and expanding its network in Asia with Thailand as a key area, catering to more visitors from China and India .

"Despite some concerns about political stability, Thailand's tourism has performed well so far this year and we hoped to see sustained growth," he said.

Issenberg said the group would open at least six hotels in Thailand by 2010.

A second MGallery is already being planned for the Kingdom; and the chain plans four All Seasons Hotels by 2010.

An All Seasons is scheduled to open on Sathorn Road this year and the remaining three before 2010. Accor expects to have 678 rooms under All Seasons and 309 rooms under the MGallery

label for Thailand.

Accor is currently running six brands here - Sofitel, Pullman, Grand Mercure, Noveltel, Mercure and Ibis - with a total of more than 8,000 rooms.

By 2009, Accor will add four Ibis hotels in Bangkok , Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui.

The group is repositioning many hotels around the world as part of its global rebranding.

It has upgraded Novotel King Power to a Pullman Hotel. The group plans to convert Sofitel Khon Khaen into a Pullman in the third quarter.

Accor operates 330 hotels in the Asia-Pacific and plans to add another 100 by 2010, many in China and India.