Celebrating its 50th anniversary on November 19, 2017, AccorHotels honoured everyday heroes – firefighters, nurses, teachers, small businesses and residents – who serve their communities, by inviting them to attend celebratory events, at 2000 establishments around the world, including over 140 hotels in the Middle East and Africa.
AccorHotels Middle East & Africa managing director and chief operating officer Olivier Granet said in a statement: "We felt that there was no better way to celebrate 50 years of operation than to honor the local heroes and residents in our communities around our hotels. We pride ourselves on the fact that AccorHotels plays an important part of the respective neighbourhoods that we work and live in and we recognise the vital contribution that our neighbours have on our success as well providing enriching experiences of our guests."
He added: "I am personally extremely grateful to all of the teams and colleagues in the Middle East and Africa for their continued passion and commitment not only towards our guests but to our community at large."
On occasion of the 50th anniversary, the operator is also launching an application, AccorLocal. This application now makes it possible for people living in the vicinity of AccorHotels-branded establishments to take advantage of 24/7 access in the hotels to the services of their local craftspeople and businesses, ranging from the florist to the baker to dry cleaning services and parcel delivery. On the other hand, hotels will have the possibility to offer some of their services (spa, massage, swimming pool, yoga classes, co-working, takeaway breakfast, etc.) to non-resident customers. AccorLocal is currently accessible in more than 250 hotels in France and will be rolled out in 2018 in Europe and subsequently globally.
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With the events that took place across the region, select Fairmont and Sofitel properties across Middle East and Africa opened doors to welcome teachers, cancer patients, special needs students, mothers and firefighters in their local communities, by hosting various activities and offering gifts. A variety of events and experiences for guests were be offered by Fairmont properties, in Dubai’s The Palm, Egypt’s Nile City and South Africa’s Zimbali Resort, from afternoon tea sessions, yoga classes, spa mornings, barbecues and pool parties.
Complimentary rooms from select Mercure hotels and Novotel properties in the region offered 50 complimentary rooms and hosted a lunch barbecue or evening cocktails for hospital staff, local universities, firefighters, emergency services staff and charitable organisations.
In addition to the provision of 50 complimentary rooms, ibis and ibis Styles hotels across the region, including ibis World Trade Center, ibis One Central, ibis Kuwait Salmiya, ibis Muscat, ibis Amman, ibis Styles Nairobi Westlands and the ibis Styles Dragon Mart invited guests for dinner parties, morning breakfasts and evening cocktail receptions.
South Africa’s three Mercure properties, Midrand, Randburg and Bedforview honoured local heroes and their families with barbecue events and cocktail parties alongside local charities. Celebrations in Mauritius included a local concert and barbecue for emergency services heroes and their families at Sofitel Mauritius l’Imperial Resort & Spa and a neighborhood lunch at SO Sofitel Mauritius.
Sofitel properties across Morocco were also be part of the celebratory events as both Agadir hotels, Sofitel Agadir Royal Bay and Sofitel Agadir Thalassa Sea & Spa, invited their local heroes to attend evening cocktail parties and barbecues as enjoy live music by local bands.
Neighbourhood locals, volunteers and recognised charities in Casablanca and Marrakech were hosted by Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche and Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial, respectively, for a complimentary brunch party.
In the UAE, Pullman Dubai JLT hosted a complimentary breakfast buffet with pampering yoga and massage sessions while Pullman Deira City Center celebrated the teachers at Sharjah’s non-profit centre, Al Manzil, and hosted cooking classes for students led by the property’s chefs.
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