Accor offers 5,000 free rooms to small UK firms

Accor Hotels has agreed to offer 5,000 free rooms to small UK businesses chasing foreign business as part of the “Backing Britain” campaign launched earlier this week.

The campaign is spearheaded by government department UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and British Airways, which is offering 5,000 free flights, worth £15m, to small- and medium-size businesses to help them pursue export orders.

Accor, which operates brands including Novotel, Sofitel and Ibis, has now agreed to match the 5,000 free flights with 5,000 free rooms, worth £500,000.

The move followed car hire company Avis agreeing to provide 1,500 free rentals to companies that meet the qualifying criteria.

Frederic Fontaine, head of sales, marketing and distribution at Accor, said: “We are wholehearted supporters of this campaign. Small businesses are the beating heart of the British economy and it’s absolutely right that their importance and value is recognised and supported.”

Accor is in the process of finalising terms and conditions of the proposal with UKTI and British American Business, which is also backing the campaign.