Accor and Inspired By KM launch "ibis unlocked" to support young people furthest from employment towards new opportunities

• Responding to a major global challenge: 1.2 billion young people will reach working age in the coming years for approximately 400 million expected jobs in certain territories¹, and nearly 1 in 5 young people are currently Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)=10px2.

• Contributing to a long-term ambition: to support and enhance the employability of 20,000 people furthest from employment by 2030, as part of the Accor Group’s Hosting Change roadmap.

• Launch in 2026 in 4 countries: Brazil, France, Morocco, and Thailand, with initial implementation in ibis hotels.

Accor, a world leader in hospitality, and Inspired By KM (IBKM), a youth-focused charity founded by Kylian Mbappé, announce the launch of “ibis unlocked.”

This social mobility initiative aims to support young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) by offering them progressive pathways to regain confidence, develop their skills, and access new professional opportunities.



A global societal issue: millions of young people on the fringes of the labor market

Around the world, millions of young people face structural obstacles in accessing employment: lack of opportunities, absence of role models, loss of confidence.

Over the next decade, 1.2 billion young people will reach working age in developing countries, while only approximately 400 million jobs are expected to be created¹. At the same time, nearly one in five young people are currently NEET.

In light of this, Accor and Inspired By KM are committed to taking concrete action to enable these young people to regain confidence and identify prospects.

That is why they have co-designed an ecosystem that combines a digital approach, human support, and field experience, in order to provide an operational and scalable solution to the challenges of inclusion and employability.

A concrete and progressive approach to supporting young people into employment

Launched in Brazil, France, Morocco, and Thailand, “ibis unlocked” supports young people at every stage of their journey through a concrete and progressive approach:

• By strengthening their confidence and employability through the development of behavioral skills, via 15 self-training modules accessible on WhatsApp, allowing them to be reached where they are and to re-establish a connection when they are outside traditional systems;
• By facilitating access to vocational and certified training thanks to partner NGOs that identify, recruit, and provide personalized support to beneficiaries;
• By offering them concrete experiences within ibis hotels, including immersions and hotel visits, internships, and job discovery.
  
  

With over 2,500 hotels in 82 countries, ibis represents the Group’s largest hotel network and a key lever for deploying this initiative on a large scale.

As part of this deployment, Inspired By KM and Accor will organize an educational week in Brazil in autumn 2026, bringing together young people, beneficiaries, and industry professionals. This week will foster exchanges, the sharing of experiences, and the construction of tailored pathways for each individual.

A long-term commitment

“ibis unlocked” constitutes a first step in a broader social mobility initiative led by Accor and Inspired By KM.

The program is intended to gradually expand, mobilizing other Group brands to diversify immersion opportunities and amplify its impact on new audiences.

It is part of Accor’s Hosting Change sustainable development roadmap, and more specifically its “Unlocking every talent’s potential” pillar, which aims to support and certify 20,000 people furthest from employment by 2030.

A new deployment phase is planned from autumn 2026, with the ambition of expanding geographically in the coming years.

Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor: “Behind these young people are stories, doubts, and often a lack of perspectives. With Inspired By KM, we have built a concrete program, rooted in our territories and our professions, to restore confidence and open paths to employment. Hospitality can be a powerful lever for transformation.”

Fayza Lamari, President of Inspired By KM: “Talent is everywhere, but it too often needs to be recognized to exist. Our role is to help young people regain self-confidence, change their perception of their abilities, and envision their future. With Accor, we are creating a concrete framework that allows them to progress at their own pace and find their place.”

¹ World Bank Group – “How to create jobs for the world’s 1.2 billion new workers”
2 International Labour Organization – “Employment and Social Trends 2026”

ABOUT ACCOR

Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,800 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry’s most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as lifestyle, with Ennismore. ALL Accor, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor’s mission is reflected in the Group’s purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) For more information, visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.

ABOUT INSPIRED BY KM

Inspired by KM (IBKM) is an association founded by Kylian Mbappé in 2020, with the mission of creating a model of positive social impact to serve young people. True to its values of learning, understanding, sharing, and transmitting, it works to promote equal opportunities, social diversity, and inclusion. Through its programs Team KM, Les 98, and We Care For All, it deploys initiatives in France and internationally (Cameroon, Algeria, Peru, Brazil, Morocco), combining education, culture, sport, career discovery, and solidarity actions. Since its creation, IBKM has reached over 25,000 children and adolescents.