Sébastien Bazin, the chairman and CEO of French multinational hospitality company Accor, visited Shanghai this week to unveil the group’s China expansion strategy, signing multiple luxury and upscale projects across Fairmont, Sofitel, MGallery, Swissotel, and Pullman. The group reported a 46% year-on-year rise in inbound tourism to mainland China, driven by Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and European markets. Accor operates over 830 hotels in Greater China and aims to reach 1,600 properties within five to six years, while deepening ties with local groups including Jin Jiang International, H World, and Sunmei. With over 50 luxury hotels open and more than 40 in the pipeline, Bazin reaffirmed China’s role as both key outbound source market and growing destination.

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