Throughout the course of the last year, Sofitel, the prestige brand of Accor hotels, has once again been bestowed…
Throughout the course of the last year, Sofitel, the prestige brand of Accor hotels, has once again been bestowed with a number of outstanding accolades from the tourism industry.
2005: Threefold distinction for the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower and continued recognition for the brand:
- The prestigious Conde Nast Traveller`s 2005 Gold List has this year awarded the Sofitel Old Cataract Aswan in Egypt (ranked number one by readers in the Africa and Middle East region), the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower (United States), the Sofitel Royal Angkor (Cambodia) and the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi (Vietnam)
- In 2004 TripAdvisor, a leading travel website, awarded Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, Sofitel New York and Sofitel Philadelphia for providing excellent quality of service in accordance with the price. As Christine Petersen, TripAdvisor`s Deputy Director of Marketing, explains, Our members consider these hotels to be simply the best
- Travel + Leisure listed Sofitel Chicago Water Tower and Sofitel Metropole Hanoi among its 500 Greatest Hotels in the World in its January 2005 edition
Award-winning Sofitel cuisine:
Sofitel cuisine has won critical acclaim in recent years and is now very highly regarded by food critics for its gastronomy, as exemplified by the number of Michelin stars awarded to many of its restaurants:
- In France (2004 guide), Les Muses (Hotel Scribe in Paris), Le Clovis (Arc de Triomphe, Paris, Sofitel Demeure Hotels), Le Relais de Sevres (Sofitel Paris Porte de Sevres) and La Table du Baltimore (Baltimore Paris, Sofitel Demeure Hotels) all retained their stars in 2004
- In Germany (2005 guide), Le Soel Ring Hof, at the Dorint Sofitel Soelring Hof on the island of Sylt, was awarded its second star by the Michelin Guide for Germany, and
- L`Orquivit, at the Dorint Sofitel Venusberg in Bonn, retained its star
Other Sofitel chefs who have been honoured and rewarded for their talent include:
- Didier Corlou, chef of the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi in Vietnam, is unanimously feted by the international gastronomic press for his exceptional cuisine that fuses Vietnamese tradition with Western innovation
- In the United Kingdom, chef Albert Roux has received the AAA Rosette for the Brasserie Roux at Sofitel St James London
- In Brazil, Veja magazine chose Le Pre Catelan restaurant at the Sofitel Rio de Janeiro as the best French restaurant and for offering the best dessert in Rio. The gastronomic review Gula chose Roland Villard, chef at Le Pre Catelan, as Best Chef for 2003
These numerous awards place Sofitel at the top of the international hotel market. Every hotel has its own unique character, but all share the same mission, namely to evoke the spirit of France: elegant decor, a warm welcome and excellent service. The 185 Sofitel hotels throughout the world are thus ambassadors of the art de vivre a la francaise.
The celebrated architecture of Sofitel hotels:
- The Sofitel Chicago Water Tower was voted the most beautiful building of the last decade by the American Institute of Architects
- Sofitel St James London received the Hermes Trophy for Best Renovation and the European Hotel Design Award for its interior design
The Sofitel brand recognized by tourism professionals:
- Sofitel appeared in the June 2004 Challenges-Interbrand chart of the 30 most highly regarded French brands on the international scene. Sofitel is the only hotel brand featuring in this list
- The 9 February 2004 edition of Business Travel News magazine ranked Sofitel as the 2nd best chain in the Upper Upscale sector in its annual survey of American travel agents entitled TOP US HOTEL CHAIN SURVEY
To experience the quality and exceptional services of Sofitel, why not take advantage of the Sofitel Getaway Invitations.
Valid until 31 December 2005 in more than 130 Sofitel Hotels in over 40 destinations worldwide, Sofitel Getaway Invitations offer savings of up to 40% off standard rates, valid any day of the week and for any length of stay, subject to availability.
Throughout the course of the last few years, Sofitel has become a major player in the international upper upscale hotel market.
Sofitel is now present in all of the major business cities (Paris, New York, London, Washington, Berlin, Tokyo, Chicago, Bangkok,…), all the leading holiday resorts (Mauritius, Morocco, French West Indies, Indonesia, Brazil,… ) and in key international airports.
In 2005, Sofitel will continue its growth with some openings in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, China, Vietnam, Brazil and Egypt.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
