The situation of MGallery hotels during confinement
The high-end hotel brand MGallery was launched by the Accor group in 2008 with eight establishments. Twelve years later, this premium collection offers 110 unique boutique hotels by design and history, which are located in 32 countries. Everything is going well until then, until the arrival of the Covid-19 and the unprecedented situation created by this health crisis which has killed more than 300,000 people worldwide. In this context, Accor very quickly set up a national platform for healthcare staff and disadvantaged populations. Thus at the end of March, the Molitor Paris - MGallery hotel reopened its kitchens to support the surgical resuscitation teams at Saint-Antoine hospital (Paris). "More than sixty hot meals made from fresh products could be delivered each day for more than a month, thanks to a team of hotel staff who volunteered in the kitchen and for delivery , tells us Jean-Christophe Gras, Director of Premium Operations for Southern Europe at Accor. We have created the CEDA - Coronavirus Emergency Desk Accor telephone platform, in order to centralize needs and offer, in conjunction with the owners of the group's hotels and the authorities concerned, accommodation solutions throughout the territory. More than 400 hotels in France were thus affected by this initiative and were able to make their rooms available to these people. "
Among the collection of 29 boutique hotels MGallery in France, the majority of employees were placed in partial activity; “ When the activity starts up again , continues Jean-Christophe Gras, we obviously intend to reintegrate all the employees, across the entire network in France. "
Summer holidays 2020, the outlook
Jean-Christophe Gras, Director of Premium Southern Europe Operations at Accor. Accor / Photo press
" The French will be able to go on vacation to France in July and August, " Édouard Philippe promised Thursday, May 14, by announcing a massive tourism recovery plan. The Prime Minister also promised, in agreement with professionals in the sector, " a full refund for the French in case of cancellation of their reservation linked to Covid ." Without however going into details concerning sanitary measures. In the sixth largest hotel group in the world ( which also owns brands like Ibis, Sofitel, Novotel, Raffles or Pullman, Editor's note ), we ensure that the health, safety and well-being of employees and customers remain a top priority. " It has been part of our DNA for 50 years ," explains Jean-Christophe Gras. High standards of hygiene and cleanliness are already evident in all our brands around the world, from economy to luxury. Accor has implemented some of the strictest sanitary procedures in the hotel industry (governed by the Global Cleanliness Council), to guarantee the safety of everyone when its hotels reopen. Each establishment welcoming customers will have to rigorously apply these new sanitary standards in order to obtain the new ALLSAFE cleanliness label . In April, the brand and Bureau Veritas, a world leader in inspection and certification, joined forces to develop a label to certify that the level of safety and hygiene measures is suitable for the recovery of 'activity.
On May 15, Accor and Axa announced the signing of a strategic partnership aimed at offering medical assistance to customers of 5,000 Accor hotels around the world. From July, travelers will benefit from innovations from the world leader in telemedicine insurance and free access to medical teleconsultations. Customers will also have access to Axa's vast medical networks, which bring together tens of thousands of approved health professionals, while hotels will now be able to guide their customers as best as possible (language, specialist, etc.).
Read also: Accor and Bureau Veritas create a label to reassure on hygiene at the hotel
The goal will be to ensure that each client continues to live an experience that is as original as it is memorable.
Jean-Christophe Gras, Director of Premium Southern Europe Operations at AccorReopening to full capacity, or with all of the services, will therefore not be possible at first, but an improved room cleaning program, using hospital quality products, will now be a standard in all Accor hotels. To go further, Jean-Christophe Gras adds that the reception procedure will be redesigned: “ we will put more emphasis on online channels (check in / check out online…) in order to limit contacts. For the catering part, we plan to do away with the buffet and create a continental option in the room or to take away. For MGallery, the objective will be to ensure that each client continues to live, in compliance with health standards, an experience as original as it is memorable, even if our range of services is reduced. "
The state of mind of the French during these holidays
Located in the heart of the medieval city of Carcassonne, the Hôtel de la Cité & Spa MGallery is opposite the Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Celse basilica (12th century) and a 2-minute walk from the Château Comtal (Château museum) medieval). Accor / Photo press
On the French market, the hotel group anticipates a slow recovery, first local then national, and international. Obstacles such as border restrictions and reduced international flight capacity will change patterns of tourism demand. “ In the coming months, the French will travel differently and will certainly favor short stays close to home. We are working in this direction to support this gradual recovery and offer more flexible stay offers adapted to this new need. To capture this domestic clientele during the summer season, MGallery hotels will have their assets. By the sea, in the great outdoors or in unusual places, all of our boutique hotels have a very local roots and invite travelers to discover or rediscover French heritage. »A good opportunity to go green, breathe the sea air or stay in town by choosing the hotel as the type of accommodation. " There is a real awareness on the part of consumers of the impact of their actions on the world , believes Jean-Christophe Gras. Local market companies will be the first to return, which is why we are currently considering the establishment of partnerships, both on the French and European markets, between the MGallery collection and local players such as market gardeners, animal parks or cultural centers. Our ambition is to continue to provide unique experiences! "
Read also: Summer holidays 2020: how the French will be able to travel
