PARIS — AccorHotels has reached a major milestone: it is now operating in 100 countries around the world.

Half a century after opening its first Novotel in France, the hotel company has announced that in 2017, its portfolio included nearly 4,300 hotels and 600,000 rooms. The pipeline for the next five years includes 870 hotels, 79% of which will be located in high-growth markets.

Its Luxury and Upscale segment recorded very strong growth last year, with figures doubling compared to 2016. In this segment, 30 hotels made their debuts, and another 60 were signed during the year, mainly in Asia-Pacific (59%) and Africa-Middle East (24%).

In addition to its iconic brands, the portfolio is expanding in the lifestyle segment, with 15 SO/ Sofitel hotels planned by 2022, and in resorts with Banyan Tree and Rixos.

“Our development strategy is very simple: to remain the leader in the markets where we are dominant and to accelerate growth in emerging markets,” said Gaurav Bhushan, Chief Development Officer at AccorHotels. “The Group’s extensive portfolio of brands and its acquisition and innovation policy therefore play a key role in our development.”

Here are AccordHotels’ regional highlights in 2017:

CENTRAL AND NORTH AMERICA

AccorHotels operates 80 hotels in this region, more than half of which are in the luxury segment. In 2017, several new developments were announced in North and Central America, with a secure pipeline of more than 4,100 new hotel rooms. Developments in 2017 include: Fairmont Century Plaza, USA; Fairmont St Lucia, Caribbean; ibis Styles New York La Guardia Airport, USA.

EUROPE

Last year, AccorHotels signed 145 projects representing almost 17,000 rooms (up 40%) in order to consolidate its leadership in Europe. With two new market-leading brands (25 Hours and Rixos), it affirms its new ambitions in the Luxury, Lifestyle and Resorts segments in Europe. Developments in 2017 include: MGallery Le Louis Versailles Chateau, France; Novotel London Canary Wharf, UK; ibis budget Amsterdam City South, Netherlands.

MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

AccorHotels was the fastest expanding hotel group in this region in 2017. It has a pipeline of 32,000 rooms and a target of 50,000 by 2020. 2017 developments include: Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, Morocco; Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights Hotel Suites & Apartments, UAE; and ibis styles Nairobi Westlands, Kenya.

ASIA-PACIFIC

AccorHotels has 830 hotels in this region, including 245 in the luxury segment. Asia-Pacific accounts for 47% of the Group’s global pipeline. 2017 developments include: Sofitel Singapore City Centre, Singapore; Mercure Dwarka Gujarat, India; and ibis Styles Ulaanbaatar Polaris, Mongolia.

SOUTH AMERICA

AccorHotels opened 52 hotels last year in this region, which included the acquisition of 21 BHG management contracts. Today, it operates 330 hotels and 52,000 rooms, including 280 hotels in Brazil and more than 90 hotels in the pipeline. The goal is to reach 500 hotels in South America by 2020. Developments in 2017 include: Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana, Brazil; Pullman Rio de Janeiro Sao Conrado, Brazil; and ibis and ibis budget in Copiapó, Chile.