Paris-based Accor reported that its first-quarter revenue rose 1.2% from a year earlier largely on a boost in demand for its Ibis, Etap and Motel 6 economy hotel brands.
Accor’s first-quarter sales were 1.37 billion euros (about $1.8 billion), up slightly from 1.35 billion euros a year earlier. Comparable-store sales, excluding currency effects, increased 4.5%.
Accor’s sales gains stemmed largely from increased demand for both its budget brands overseas and in the U.S. Same-store sales at economy hotels jumped 17% in Latin America and 13% in Asia-Pacific, where Accor is looking to rapidly expand its Ibis brand throughout China.
In North America, where Accor operates or franchises about 1,100 Motel 6 properties, same-store sales advanced 6.8% from a year earlier.
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