Accor, the French hotel group listed in Paris, controlling 45.5 percent of Polish Orbis, has presented its new strategy to investors. The main provisions include: development of new brands, increasing the market share in economy and middle-level hotels as well as increasing the number of hotels operating as franchise or management contracts. Today, Orbis consists of the following brands: Sofitel (5 star hotels), Novotel (4 stars), Mercure (3), Ibis (2) and Etap (1).
“Next year, Mercure Gallery brand will appear in Poland. These are going to be small hotels, with fewer than 100 rooms. As for standard, they are somewhere between Novotel and Sofitel”, Jean-Philippe Savoye, Orbis CEO said.
Within 3-4 years, Orbis will consider implementing new brands in Poland, including Pullman. All Seasons hotels will appear even later. In four years’ time, Orbis wants to have 20 Ibis hotels and 20 Etap hotels. Next year, 15 will be built.
Next year, Orbis will take care for its subsidiary: Orbis Travel.
“As far as sales are concerned, this is one of Poland’s biggest travel operators. However, it has been hardly breaking even in recent years. That’s why in 2008 the aim is 5 percent of net profitability and PLN 250m (EUR 69.8m) of sales”, Jean-Philippe Savoye said.
Orbis Travel has 39 own shops. Its offers are sold by 1,500 agents. In the first half of this year, it had PLN 90.6m of sales and PLN 5m of net loss. In 2006, the company had PLN 215m of sales and PLN 0.9m of net income.
Orbis group had PLN 60.96m of net income in the first three quarters of this year and PLN 891.6m of sales.
(PLN 1 = EUR 0.279)