French hotelier Accor, which previously owned a 34 percent stake in German hotelier, Dorint AG, has now acquired control of 52 upscale and midscale hotels, which were part of Dorint's 93-property network. The acquisition has prompted Dorint to split the company in two, with Accor holding a majority interest in one. Of the hotels acquired, eight were previously operated under the Dorint Sofitel brand, 17 under the Dorint Novotel brand and 27 under the Mercure brand. Strategically, the transaction, which is still subject to approval, enables Accor to complete its program launched in 2003 to reposition the Sofitel, Novotel and Mercure networks in Germany.
