Accor is strengthening its presence in the short-term vacation rental space with the launch of a new Apartments & Villas booking platform.
Debuting with an inventory of more than 50,000 apartments, villas and chalets, Accor's Apartments & Villas site consolidates accommodations from the company's 15 extended stay hotel brands, including the Adagio, Mantra and Hyde Living flags as well as privately-owned branded residences managed by Accor's Raffles, Banyan Tree, Delano, Fairmont and SLS brands, among others.
Private rentals available under Accor's high-end Onefinestay brand, which has remained in expansion mode throughout the pandemic, are also searchable under the new platform. Accor acquired Onefinestay in 2016.
In a statement, Accor cited a report from Savills International Development Consultancy indicating that the branded residence model, in particular, has "proven to be very resilient" during the Covid-19 crisis.
"We see increasing demand for residentially-designed, short-term rental accommodations, as consumers seek out accommodations which enable more privacy and self-sufficiency and include features like extra living space and generous outdoor space," said Savills International Development Consultancy head Riyan Itani.
Accommodations booked through the Apartments & Villas platform are eligible for Accor Live Limitless loyalty program benefits.
The site's debut comes as the short-term vacation rental segment outpaces hotels on the recovery front since the pandemic began.