Accor: First Half 2001 Consolidated Sales Increase 8.6 Percent to EUR 3.6 Million


PARIS, August 3, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- ACCOR (Reuters: AC.PA, Euroclear Paris code :12040, AC. Paris Stock Exchange), consolidated sales for first-half 2001.


 (in EUR million)        2000    2001    Change
 Hotels                 2,230   2,482    +11.3%
 Services                 206     241    +17.4%
 Other activities         881     876     -0.5%
 Total Group            3,316   3,600     +8.6%

Accor's first half 2001 consolidated sales totaled EUR 3.6 million, up 8.6% compared to EUR 3.316 million in the first half of 2000. Excluding disposals and currency impact, the sales grew 11.4%.

These results demonstrate Accor's ability to deliver good growth in a difficult economic environment. Accor continues to successfully capitalize on its leadership position in Europe and worldwide, its well-balanced portfolio across market segments and geographies, and its investments in reservation systems, distribution and yield management.

Detail

Accor's sales growth of 8.6% is comprised of:


 -- growth of existing activities: +5.3%
 
 -- business development: +6.1%
 
 -- currency impact: +0.8%
 
 -- asset disposals: -3.6%

Hotels: +11.3%

Hotel activities rose by 11.3%, reflecting a 3.4% increase in existing units, 7.8% growth from new business development and a 1.7% positive currency impact (mainly US Dollar).

Services: +17.4%

Revenues from Services grew 17.4%, reflecting a 17.9% increase in existing activities on a like-for-like basis, 2.1% growth from new business development, and a 1.8% reduction from currency impact (mainly Brazilian Real).

Other Activities of Travel and Tourism


 -- Travel agencies: +2.7% (+0.2% same perimeter and currency basis)
 
 -- Casinos: +29.6% (+12.3% like-for-like)
 
 -- Restaurants and catering: -8.8% (+11.5% same perimeter and
    currency basis)
 
 -- On-board train services: -17.2%  (+7.7% like-for-like)

Comments on Activity Trends and 2001 Outlook

The slowdown in the U.S. economy has adversely affected the hotel industry. Accor followed the market trend but thanks to its focus on the economy segment and its broad geographic dispersal of properties across the U.S., Accor has reduced the impact of the softening economy.

Current forecasts for the U.S. economy considered in light of Accor's U.S. RevPAR progress through June (1.8% growth of Motel 6 and Red Roof Inns) suggests that, if the current trend continues, Accor's U.S. RevPAR in 2001 should be slightly negative.

In Europe, where activity stagnated in certain countries, Accor's leadership with its well-balanced portfolio, its strong presence in the economy segment, and its lesser dependence on American clientele, enabled Accor's European hotels to deliver solid RevPAR growths. Taking into account Accor's June-end (European RevPAR growth of 6.1% in the business and leisure segment and 7.5% growth in the economy segment), Accor maintains its confidence in delivering full year 2001 European RevPAR growth of 5.0%.

During the first half of 2001, Accor's services business delivered strong sales in the established markets of France, Italy and Mexico, and in new markets including Venezuela and Romania where performance was exceptional.

Sales from travel agencies, which are undergoing foreseen repercussions from the contraction of corporate travel policies in the U.S., post a slight increase despite volume declines due to Accor's ability to increase commission rates.

Other activities also delivered good progress, notably casinos with 12.3% growth and restaurants and catering with 11.5% growth, both on like-for-like basis.

The success of Accor's development strategy continues to make Accor confident that it will add 30 - 35 thousand rooms to its network during the year, mainly through organic growth.

Thanks to its well-balanced geographic coverage, its privileged position in Europe, its diversified portfolio of activities in the hotel business and services businesses, and its selective development strategy, Accor's strenghts enable us to lessen the negative impact of the economic cycles.

In the current economic environment, Accor remains confident for 2001.

With 145,000 associates in 140 countries, Accor is the European leader and one of the world's largest groups in travel, tourism and corporate services, with two major international activities:


 -- hotels: 3,600 hotels (400,000 rooms) in 90 countries, travel
    agencies, restaurants and casinos;
 
 -- services to corporate clients and public institutions: each day,
    12 million people in 31 countries use a broad range of services
    (food vouchers, people's care, expenses management, incentive /
    events) engineered and managed by Accor.

Information on Accor are available on Internet at www.accor.com/finance


 Consolidated Sales              First Quarter
  (in EUR million)       2000    2001    Variation       Variation
                                         2001/2000       2001/2000
                                         published       Like-for-like
                                                         basis
 
 Hotels                  983     1122    +14.1%          +5.5%
 Business and leisure    529     611     +15.6%          +6.6%
 Economy                 194     221     +14.2%          +6.5%
 Economy u.S.            260     289     +11.0%          +2.4%
 
 Services                98      116     +18.7%          +17.4%
 
 Other activities        415     415      0.0%           +6.5%
 Travel management       120     124     +3.1%           +0.7%
 Casinos                 55      71      +28.8%          +11.1%
 Restauration            126     115     -8.9%           +8.1%
 On-board train services 74      63      -15.5%          +8.1%
 Other                   40      43      +8.2%           +9.4%
 
 TOTAL                   1,496   1,652   +10.5%          +6.5%
 
 
 Consolidated Sales              Second Quarter
  (in EUR million)       2000    2001    Variation       Variation
                                         2001/2000       2001/2000
                                         published       Like-for-like
                                                         basis
 
 Hotels                  1,246   1,361   +9.2%           +1.8%
 Business and leisure    669     729     +8.9%           +2.4%
 Economy                 241     266     +10.4%          +2.7%
 Economy U.S.            336     366     +8.9%           -0.1%
 
 Services                108     126     +16.3%          +18.4%
 
 Other activities        466     462     -1.0%           +8.0%
 Travel management       138     142     +2.5%           -0.2%
 Casinos                 57      75      +30.3%          +13.5%
 Restauration            135     123     -8.7%           +14.7%
 On-board train services 87      70      -18.7%          +7.3%
 Other                   49      51      +5.2%           +7.3%
 
 TOTAL                   1,820   1,948   +7.0%           +4.4%
 
 
 Consolidated Sales              Half Year
  (in EUR million)       2000    2001    Variation       Variation
                                         2001/2000       2001/2000
                                         published       Like-for-like
                                                         basis
 Hotels                  2,230   2,482   +11.3%          +3.4%
 Business and leisure    1,198   1,340   +11.8%          +4.3%
 Economy                 434     487     +12.1%          +4.3%
 Economy U.S.            597     655     +9.8%           +1.0%
 
 Services                206     241     +17.4%          +17.9%
 
 Other activities        881     876     -0.5%           +7.3%
 Travel management       258     265     +2.7%           +0.2%
 Casinos                 112     145     +29.6%          +12.3%
 Restauration            261     238     -8.8%           +11.5%
 On-board train services 161     133     -17.2%          +7.7%
 Other                    88      94     +6.6%           +8.3%
 
 TOTAL                   3.316   3.600   +8.6%           +5.3%
 
 
 Hotel RevPAR by market
  segment 2001 Half Year, YTD
                        Occupancy Rate        Average       RevPAR
                                             Room Rate
                     (in %)  (var. in pts.)  (Var. in %)  (var. in %)
 Business and Leisure
  Europe (in FRF)     65.2%    - 0.2           +6.4%         +6.1%
 Economy Europe
  (in FRF)            74.4%     +0.5           +6.8%         +7.5%
 Economy Lodging
  (in USD)            66.7%     +0.8           +0.5%         +1.8%

 
 Hotel RevPAR by country
  2001 Half Year, YTD
                Number       Occupancy Rate     Average      RevPAR
                of Rooms*                       Room Rate
 (in local
  currency)              (in %) (var. in pts.) (var. in %) (var. in %)
 France         81,470    71.7%     +0.5        +7.2%       +7.9%
 Germany        28,109    65.3%     -0.8        +2.6%(a)    +1.4%
 U.K.            7,831    72.1%     +1.8        +1.0%(b)    +3.5%
 The
  Netherlands    5,143    75.2%     -1.2        +5.1%       +3.4%
 Belgium         4,802    69.6%     -0.4        +3.8%       +3.2%
 Italy           3,156    69.0%     +1.6        +6.8%       +9.4%
 Hungary         3,062    58.0%     -2.3        -0.2%       -4.0%
 U.S.A.:
  (Business
    and Leisure) 3,512    66.9%     -1.6        +3.7%(c)    +1.3%
 
 * Subsidiaries and managed
 
 (a)     +2.7% excluding business development
 
 (b)     +6.8% excluding business development
 
 (c)     -5.3% excluding business development


            

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