Accor, the world's largest hotel and tourism operator, has forged a partnership with the leading Chinese hotel and tourism operator, Beijing Tourism Group (BTG) to develop projects which are of mutual interest.

It is the intention of BTG and Accor that BTG will provide assistance to Accor to develop its hotel and tourism interests in China while at the same time Accor will assist BTG  in expanding its international business interests in Europe.

BTG is a rapidly growing organisation, that has the right to manage and administer state-owned hotels, restaurants, transport and other travel and tourism related services. BTG has a number of established international partnerships and has been involved in overseas joint-venture investments in the United States, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Hungary.   BTG controls assets totaling more than US$1.3 billion.

Accor, which operates over 3,300 hotels globally, as well as car rental, travel agency and tourism services, believes that China is a key area for expansion. Currently, Accor operates five hotels (under the Sofitel and Novotel brands) and has a further four hotels due to open very soon. Recently, Accor's Europcar car rental company signed a co-operation agreement with leading China car-rental group, Shi Ji Tong Car Rental, which enables Europcar to set up in the People's Republic of China, thus becoming the first international car rental company to operate in this market.

Commenting on the signing, Jean-Marc Espalioux, said it was highly strategic as Beijing Tourism Group's interests closely mirrored those of Accor's.

"China offers remarkable opportunities for Accor, and in turn, BTG sees Accor's global hotel and travel agency network as a means of expanding its operations beyond the China boundaries. It is an agreement of exceptional mutual benefits and we are confident it will lead to the announcement of a number of specific projects in the near future."

"Priority will be given to the expansion of Accor's hotel network in China, with Beijing a key objective, but at the same time looking to expand our interests in travel and tourism services in Beijing and the rest of China with BTG," said Mr. Espalioux.