This will be the sixth year that Accor has staged its World of Accor expos showcasing Accor's global hotel network, along with new products and services, to travel agents, wholesalers, corporate clients, MICE organizers and tourism partners.

Accor say that they have opened around 50 new hotels will have opened since the 2008 expos, with new additions in major destinations in China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia. Accor has also introduced new products, such as the Pullman hotel brand, MGallery boutique hotel collection, and A|Club hotel loyalty program.

According to Ray Stone, senior vice president sales and marketing for Accor Asia Pacific, Accor has a long tradition of working closely with the travel industry in Asia Pacific, and World of Accor 2009 will highlight the group's continuing commitment to working with its partners to boost business, conference and leisure travel across the region.

Stone added, "World of Accor is open to all representatives of the travel industry and we hope to have the opportunity to meet with as many of these industry professionals as possible as the series travels the region."

The 2009 World of Accor schedule for China is: Beijing on March 30, 2009; Shanghai on April 1, 2009; Guangzhou on May 18, 2009; and Hong Kong on May 20, 2009.

(China Hospitality News January 23, 2009)