French hospitality giant Accor has surpassed 150 franchise hotels across Australia and New Zealand, marking a major milestone in its Pacific growth strategy as the company accelerates expansion through franchising, hotel conversions and owner partnerships across the region.
The achievement was announced alongside the 2026 Accor Pacific Franchise Conference in Sydney, which brought together more than 270 franchise partners, hotel owners, industry leaders and company executives to discuss investment trends, operational performance, artificial intelligence, loyalty programmes and the future of hotel franchising in the Pacific market.
According to Accor, the Pacific has become its largest and fastest-growing franchise network, supported by rising demand from hotel owners seeking globally recognised brands, stronger distribution platforms, loyalty-driven demand and operational efficiencies while retaining the individuality of their assets.
Leire Leoz, Chief Franchise Officer for Accor’s Premium, Midscale and Economy division, said franchising is becoming increasingly important to the group’s global growth ambitions. “Franchising is playing an increasingly important role in Accor’s global growth strategy,” Leoz said, adding that owners continue to seek flexible operating models backed by the scale and support of a global hospitality company.
The milestone also underscores Accor’s broader asset-light growth model, where expansion is driven through management and franchise agreements rather than hotel ownership. The company said franchising complements its managed hotel business, with Accor continuing to operate the region’s largest managed hotel network alongside its growing franchise portfolio.
Adrian Williams, Chief Operating Officer for Accor in the Pacific, said owner relationships remain central to the network’s success. “Our franchise network today represents a highly collaborative, performance-driven ecosystem built around owner success,” Williams said. He added that many franchise partners have expanded their relationship with Accor, with around half now owning multiple hotels within the network.
A significant development accompanying the announcement is the planned Pacific debut of Accor’s economy lifestyle brand greet. The conversion-focused brand is designed to help owners reposition existing hotels through a value-led model that combines local character, informal hospitality and contemporary guest experiences.
Danesh Bamji, Vice President of Franchise for Accor in the Pacific region, said demand for conversion-friendly brands continues to rise across Australia and New Zealand. “The franchise landscape across Australia and New Zealand is evolving rapidly,” Bamji said, noting that more independent hotel operators are seeking the commercial benefits of global brand affiliation while preserving their local identity.
The Pacific franchise expansion has been particularly strong in regional and suburban markets, where independent hotels are increasingly turning to international hospitality groups for brand recognition, loyalty programme access and stronger commercial performance.
Accor currently operates more than 420 hotels across the Pacific region under brands including Sofitel, MGallery, Pullman, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Novotel, Mercure, TRIBE and ibis. The group said it will continue pursuing strategic franchise opportunities, conversions and owner-focused growth initiatives throughout Australia and New Zealand.
The latest milestone comes as Accor continues expanding several of its brands across the region, including further development plans for Mövenpick properties and a broader focus on franchise-led growth, reinforcing the Pacific’s importance within the company’s global network of more than 5,700 hotels spanning over 110 countries.
