Accor has signed a management agreement for Mercure Johor Bahru, adding Malaysia to the brand’s fast growing network in Asia.

The hotel is currently operating as M-Suites Hotels, managed by Mercure, and will be launched as Mercure Johor Bahru after completing a renovation programme to bring the hotel up to brand standards.

According to Accor Asia Pacific Managing Director Michael Issenberg, the expanding Mercure brand network around Asia gives Mercure Johor Bahru a market advantage in Malaysia’s competitive hotel sector.

“Johor Bahru is the main entry point for Singaporeans traveling to Malaysia. The hotel will be positioned to attract both leisure travellers on weekends and meetings business from major multi-national companies with regional offices in Singapore.”

“Brand awareness is growing Asia wide, and Mercure Johor Bahru joins Grand Mercure Roxy Park in Singapore helping raise the Mercure brand profile in the area.”

Commenting on the agreement, Mudra Resources Sdn Bnd Managing Director, Datuk Abdul Rahman, said Accor’s Mercure brand would help attract more overseas business to the hotel.

“Accor’s global sales and distribution network, together with Mercure branding, will raise the hotel’s profile and distinguish it from the competition in Johor Bahru. We believe our staff will also benefit from Accor training opportunities and the opportunity to be part of an international hotel group.”

Mercure Johor Bahru joins a vast network of Mercure hotels. Accor has aggressively expanded its Mercure brand in Asia Pacific the last two year with many hotels currently under operation around the region. In Thailand Accor launched Grand Mercure Park Avenue on Sukhumvit Road this month, Grand Mercure Fortune Bangkok in September and Mercure Pattaya in July 2005.

This year Accor also opened its first two Mercure hotels in China, Grand Mercure on Renmin Square Xian and Mercure on Renmin Square.