Jean-Marc Espalioux, Chairman of the Management Board of Accor, and Michael Frenzel, Chairman of the Management Board of TUI, signed…
Jean-Marc Espalioux, Chairman of the Management Board of Accor, and Michael Frenzel, Chairman of the Management Board of TUI, signed a broad-based agreement involving the inclusion of Accor hotels in Europe in TUI tour operations and in France the distribution of the new TUI tour operating brand in Accor`s travel agencies through the L`Alliance network.
The signing, which took place at the Press Club de France, was also attended by Benjamin Cohen, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Accor Management Board in charge of Leisure and Tourism, and Eric Debry, member of the TUI Executive Committee and Chairman of the Nouvelles Frontieres Management Board.
In Europe:
Beginning with the 2004 summer season, in 14 European countries, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, TUI tour operators will market 180 Accor hotels under the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure and Ibis brands, located in tourist cities.
In the French market:
- As part of a preferred partnership contract, TUI France will market nine of Accor`s Coralia Clubs. TUI France has decided to make Coralia Clubs one of its flagship products.
- Its new 2003/2004 fall/winter catalogue will feature seven Coralia Clubs:
- In Morocco, the Coralia Club Palmariva in Marrakech and the Coralia Club La Kasbah in Agadir.
- In Tunisia, the Coralia Club Palm Beach Djerba and the Coralia Club Monastir.
- In Senegal, the Coralia Club Le Baobab.
- In Cuba, the Coralia Club Playa del Oro.
- In Egypt, the Coralia Club Dahab.
- For the 2004 summer season, two more will be added:
- In Corsica, the Coralia Club Porticcio.
- In Turkey, the Coralia Club Tekirova.
The contract attests to the two Groups` commitment to building a long-term partnership leveraging the synergies of the world`s leading tour operator and Europe`s leading hotel Group.
A preferred distribution contract has also been signed for the new TUI French tour operating brand with L`Alliance, a company created by Accor (Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Frantour) and Selectour. With its partners CIT, Lusitania, Verney and Wasteels, L`Alliance has a network of 1,074 travel agencies. The contract will take effect in September 2003.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
