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AccorHotels signs an agreement to acquire Gekko, the specialist in hotel distribution solutions for business travelers


WEBWIRE

AccorHotels has today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Gekko, a major player in the business travel hotel reservation segment. 

This transaction is in line with the strategy aimed at strengthening AccorHotels’ leadership across the entire customer experience by enhancing the range of services offered to business travelers, the Group’s key customer segment.

Thanks to its expertise and cutting-edge technology, Gekko offers search and reservation solutions via an interface connected to more than 500,000 hotels worldwide, ranging from budget to luxury. Its turnkey management tools allow business travelers to manage their online payments, offering them the option of tracking and optimizing their costs. 

Gekko today serves more than 300 corporate customers and 14,000 travel agencies through its subsidiaries: HCorpo (key accounts), Teldar Travel (leisure travel agencies), Teldar Travel Biz (SME-focused travel agencies), Miles Attack (loyalty program) and Infinite Hotel (wholesaler serving independent French hotels).  Gekko operates in France, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, and has been posting very strong year-on-year growth for many years. 

Founded in 2010, Gekko is managed by Olivier Delouis and Stéphane de Laforcade.  They introduced HLD, a European investment fund, as their reference shareholder in 2015.

The transaction, which values Gekko at €100 million, will have an accretive effect on AccorHotels’ financial performance from 2018.

Stephane de Laforcade and Olivier Delouis will remain at the head of Gekko and will continue to run the group independently.

Thibault Viort, Chief Disruption & Growth Officer, stated, “We are very pleased to have Gekko’s team join our Group. AccorHotels’ extensive global footprint, together with Gekko’s technological leadership, today paves the way for the creation of a global leader in B-to-B hotel distribution. Since business travelers represent a key segment in the Group’s business, our capacity to respond to the specific requirements of this segment across the entire value chain is a factor that really sets us apart.” 

Stéphane de Laforcade and Olivier Delouis, co-founders and executives of Gekko, said: “Teaming up with AccorHotels during such an important time for our company creates new opportunities for growth. We are fully aligned on our B-to-B distribution strategy, and AccorHotels’ strong brand and reputation will provide us with additional resources and greater legitimacy in key international markets.”

The transaction is subject to approval of competition authorities and has already been approved by AccorHotels’ employee representative bodies.

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ABOUT ACCORHOTELS
The AccorHotels Group is a global leader in travel and lifestyle, and a pioneer in digital technology, offering unique experiences in more than 4,200 hotels, resorts and residences, and in more than 10,000 outstanding private residences worldwide. With its dual expertise as an investor and operator, through its HotelInvest and HotelServices divisions, AccorHotels operates in 95 countries. Its portfolio includes internationally renowned luxury brands such as Raffles, Sofitel Legend, SO Sofitel, Sofitel, Fairmont, onefinestay, MGallery by Sofitel, Pullman and Swissôtel, the mid-range boutique hotel brands 25hours, Novotel, Mercure, Mama Shelter and Adagio, and very popular budget brands such as JO&JOE, ibis, ibis Styles oribis budget, as well as the regional brands Grand Mercure, The Sebel andhotelF1. AccorHotels provides innovative services to travelers, throughout their entire journey, notably through the recent acquisition of John Paul, the leading concierge service worldwide.
Boasting an unrivalled range of brands and a rich history dating back some five decades, AccorHotels has a global team of more than 240,000 committed women and men investing all their energy into making “Feel Welcome” resonate as the finest hotel promise. Guests have access to one of the world’s most attractive hotel loyalty programs - Le Club AccorHotels.  
AccorHotels plays an active role in the local communities where it operates and is actively involved in promoting sustainable development and solidarity through PLANET 21, a comprehensive program bringing together employees, clients and partners in order to ensure sustainable growth.
Accor SA shares are listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (ISIN: FR0000120404) and traded in the United States on the OTC market (Ticker: ACRFY). 

For further information or to make a reservation, please visit accorhotels.group or accorhotels.com.


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