AccorHotels has acquired a 50 percent stake in Orient Express, the 140-year-old luxury hospitality brand. The partnership will serve AccorHotels in its expansion efforts within the luxury sector with the development of a new collection of hotels under the Orient Express banner. This collection will offer a unique experience steeped in history that combines the luxury, exoticism, and sophistication of East and West in iconic locations.
“We are delighted with this strategic partnership, which today cements the alliance of two major French players in the world of travel for a shared purpose, that of giving fresh impetus and international standing to a historic and world-renowned brand,” says AccorHotels chairman & CEO Sébastien Bazin. “Thanks to this partnership, our customers will be able to enjoy a prestigious range of services and exceptional experiences based on a portfolio of luxury brands.”
“In its time, the Orient Express took the art of traveling to its peak. This ambitious project, which is unique, cannot come to fruition without the complementary skills of our two shareholders,” adds Orient Express corporate secretary Guillaume de Saint Lager. “We are proud and particularly look forward to being involved in writing this new chapter with such strong backing. Our ambition is to recreate this experience and make the Orient Express the gold standard in luxury travel and hospitality.”
