SOFITEL EXPANDS INTO AFRICA: Sofitel has expanded into Africa with its latest opening in Benin in West Africa. Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa is located in Cotonou, Benin’s economic capital. Situated near popular landmarks, the hotel features 198 rooms (including 14 suites and five duplex suites with private pools) with views of the ocean and cityscape. The hotel includes five bars and restaurants, an indoor heated pool, a 1,000-square-meter spa in partnership with KOS Paris, fitness center and a large convention center. Catering to business travelers, the convention center includes nine meeting rooms along with concierge service and an event management team. Part of Accor, Sofitel’s current portfolio consists more than 110 luxury hotels worldwide.
MERCURE DEBUTS IN OMAN: Mercure, the locally-inspired brand from Accor, has debuted in Oman with the soft opening of Mercure Muscat. Located about 15 minutes from Muscat International Airport, the hotel offers 186 rooms and suites with panoramic views of the city, mountains and sea. Facilities and amenities include an outdoor pool on the seventh floor, a health club, spa and meeting and event space for up to 450 guests. The hotel is owned by Castle Tourism Hotel Management LLC. Mercure marked its 50th anniversary in 2023 and recently achieved the milestone of opening its 1,000th hotel. Currently, the brand has more than 200 additional properties under development.
ACCOR SIGNS PULLMAN IN TOKYO: Accor has announced a signing to launch its flagship premium brand, Pullman, in Tokyo. Located in the city’s Ginza district, Pullman Tokyo Ginza is scheduled to open in late 2027. The new-build hotel will have 145 rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, a destination bar, gym, club lounge and a lobby lounge. Catering to bleisure guests, the hotel will also offer flexible meeting spaces. The signing of the hotel marks a milestone in Accor’s expansion plans in Japan and Asia. At present, Accor operates 45 hotels across Japan, totaling 11,635 keys, under nine brands in the luxury and lifestyle and premium, midscale and economy segments; along with a pipeline of four properties set to open by 2029.
CRITERION CAPITAL SECURES £25M FOR ZEDWELL: Criterion Capital has secured £25 million investment from Cynergy Bank for the ambitious expansion of its Zedwell hotel brand. Zedwell, the sleep-centric, design-forward brand, offers rooms with soundproof walls, floors and doors. The brand has three properties in central London and the funding will help the brand to expand further into the U.K. Upcoming openings include in York, Manchester and Edinburgh. With 13 new locations under development, Zedwell is aiming to grow its estate to 8,000 rooms by 2027. Currently, Criterion’s overall hotel portfolio includes 24 hotels totaling more than 8,000 rooms across the U.K. as well as a residential portfolio consisting of 4,020 apartments.
