In Photos: Two newly build French Hotels in Tehran

AccorHotels, the world’s leading hotel operator, on Wednesday, announced that it has signed a management agreement with an Iranian firm for its two inaugural properties in Tehran.

Under the contract, the Iranian firm Aria Ziggurat Tourism Development Company will use the Novotel and Ibis brands, both owned by French hotel giant AccorHotels, for 15 years starting next month.

The new hotels – Novotel IKIA and Ibis IKIA – are connected to the main terminal of Imam Khomeini International Airport and scheduled to open in October 2015. AccorHotels is the first international hotel group to launch its brands in Iran.

AccorHotels’ Chairman and CEO, Sébastien Bazin, said at a press conference in Tehran on Wednesday: “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.” He added.

Novotel lobby

The almost 500-room cluster hotels encompass a midscale hotel – Novotel IKIA (296 rooms) – and an economy hotel – ibis IKIA (196 rooms). 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. Guests will enjoy a choice of Iranian and international cuisine, large meeting rooms and convention venues, and wellness facilities including spas, fitness centers and swimming pools.

Ibis lobby

AccorHotels currently manages 71 hotels (17,300 rooms) in the Middle East, spanning every segment from luxury to economy, in 10 countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

A view of the Ibis hotel

Iran hopes to increase tourist arrivals to 20 million from the current 4.5 million over the next 10 years. Masoud Soltanifar, the head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, said during the signing ceremony that the country hopes to generate $25-30 billion dollars a year from tourism by 2025.

Novotel meeting area

“In the future there will be an opportunity for companies from all countries, including Americans, to enter Iran’s tourism market, complying with our laws and regulations, which are good ones in terms of foreign investment,” Soltanifar said.

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