CHINA: Accor, in collaboration with Ennismore, has announced a long term master franchise agreement with one of China’s top hotel and property developers.
Country Garden’s core alliance enterprise, Funyard Hotels and Resorts, will work with Accor and Ennismore to introduce Accor’s lifestyle brand Jo&Joe to China.
Jo&Joe hotels, which already has a presence across France, Austria, Colombia, and Brazil, offers a hybrid guest experience, challenging the norm of traditional hotels.
The hotels cater for extended stay guests, as well as short stay, and part of the brand ethos is to encourage guests to enjoy the local neighbourhood and culture during their stay.
At Jo&Joe hotels, guests staying on extended holidays can mingle with short stay guests, travellers and locals in shared public areas, enjoy entertainment and experience the neighbourhood vibe.
Gaurav Bhushan, Co-CEO, Ennismore said: “Globally, the lifestyle segment is generating robust interest and has a strong growth trajectory. We continue to strengthen our position in this segment, with concepts that integrate the notion of entertainment and feature restaurants and bars that appeal to locals as well as guests. Our lifestyle brands are linked directly with their local communities – at JO&JOE, the mix of street art, music, and food, all work together to make each destination unique and compelling for a new generation of travellers.”
Gary Rosen, CEO, Accor Greater China. “Accor is already experiencing record growth in Greater China and our newly formed partnership with Funyard continues to accelerate our leadership position in lifestyle hospitality. We are thrilled to be joining forces with Funyard, which already has a strong presence in the market.”
Zhang Yong, executive president of Funyard Hotels & Resorts added: “We can think of no better way to celebrate the second anniversary of Funyard than to embark on a mission with Accor and Ennismore to bring the JO&JOE experience to China. We share their values, mindset, and commitment to delivering unique experiences. We also have many synergies to explore – such as Accor’s global expertise and distribution network, and our immense inventory of property. Together, we look forward to establishing JO&JOE as a benchmark of affordable lifestyle hospitality in China.”
The initial locations of the 1300 Jo&Joe hotels in China will be announced this year, with further updates over the summer.
Accor has 5,300 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has a diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystem encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces.
Simon McGrath, CEO of Accor Pacific at the time, told SAN about the Sebel serviced apartment brand in 2020.
