AccorHotels has made a momentous move by becoming the first hotel since 1979 to operate in Iran by signing a management agreement with Aria Ziggurat for its two inaugural properties in Tehran.
The new hotels which will be Novotel IKIA with 296 rooms, an economy hotel and ibis IKIA with 196 rooms. Both hotels are strategically connected to the main terminal of Imam Khomeini International Airport within a 45-minute drive from downtown Tehran, the two new hotels are ideally positioned to attract domestic and international business travelers and tourists. The two hotels are scheduled to open in October 2015 becoming the first international hotel group to launch its brands in Iran.
Sébastien Bazin, AccorHotels’ chairman and CEO, said at a press conference in Tehran: “We are very excited about signing this partnership with Aria Ziggurat in Iran. We are certain that Novotel and ibis will fit perfectly into the growth momentum that Iran’s hospitality sector is enjoying. Our brands are looking at huge growth potential in this country, which is home to almost 80 million people and is expanding its economy. Our ambition is to develop an important network in the country thanks to our global portfolio of brands covering all segments, from luxury to midscale and economy.”
Dr Mehdi Jahangiri, Aria Ziggurat’s Chairman, added: “We believe the expertise of international hospitality groups will upgrade local standards and existing levels of service in our hotels, and ultimately add value to our business. This important agreement with AccorHotels for the management of Novotel and ibis IKIA hotels in Tehran is a prosperous beginning that defines our new offer of hotel service along with an Iranian taste of hospitality and rich culture to our valued customers, partners and employees.”
Aria Ziggurat Tourism Development Co., as a subsidiary of SEMEGA, is the owning company of Novotel and ibis IKIA hotels with 4 and 5 star ratings in Tehran. It is a private company established and registered in 2010 under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Aria Ziggurat, SEMEGA, Tourism Bank and 37 other sister companies are all members of Tourism Financial Group, a leading holding company in Iran with over 4100 staff members mainly dedicated to developing the tourism and hospitality industry in the country.
