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April 2006 2005 Annual<br />

Results<br />

page 2<br />

Strategy:<br />

First Outlines<br />

<strong>Hotels</strong><br />

page 3<br />

<strong>Hotels</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Services</strong>:<br />

<strong>Growth</strong> <strong>Drivers</strong><br />

Focus on…<br />

Accor <strong>Services</strong><br />

page 6<br />

Special Offers<br />

Letter<br />

to Shareholders<br />

<strong>Driving</strong> <strong>sustainable</strong>,<br />

<strong>profitable</strong> growth<br />

Dear Shareholders,<br />

Our good 2005 results <strong>and</strong><br />

solid financial position have laid<br />

a firm foundation for pursuing<br />

the ambitious strategy of<br />

developing our two global<br />

businesses we announced<br />

on March 8.<br />

The Board of Directors is<br />

currently finalizing the strategic<br />

plan, which Gilles Pélisson<br />

will present in September. It is<br />

expected to lead to a significant<br />

improvement in our margins,<br />

thereby helping to secure our<br />

future development.<br />

Thanks to our positioning in<br />

rapidly exp<strong>and</strong>ing markets <strong>and</strong><br />

the dedication of our teams,<br />

Accor should now be able<br />

to satisfy its shareholders,<br />

employees <strong>and</strong> partners with<br />

<strong>sustainable</strong>, <strong>profitable</strong> growth.<br />

Serge Weinberg<br />

Chairman of the Board<br />

of Directors<br />

Dear Shareholders,<br />

Our 2005 results announced on March 8 were in line<br />

with our stated objectives. We also considerably<br />

strengthened our financial position during the past<br />

year, thanks in particular to our active management<br />

of property assets.<br />

We are present on all continents, with a unique<br />

portfolio of more than 4,000 hotels <strong>and</strong> global<br />

leadership in the economy segment, as well as an innovative, efficient services business. We<br />

must now capitalize on our successes in these two businesses.<br />

In <strong>Hotels</strong>, we will refocus our strategy on the br<strong>and</strong>s, with the goal of making them even more<br />

attractive through more active marketing <strong>and</strong> a more assertive approach to innovation. We will<br />

pursue our property assets management strategy on a global scale <strong>and</strong> extend our network on<br />

all continents, especially in emerging markets. Thanks to our financial position, we can envision<br />

an ambitious development program <strong>and</strong> plan to create more than 200,000 new hotel rooms by<br />

2010. Improving our operating margins in Europe <strong>and</strong> the United States is another challenge,<br />

even if a very short term one. Lastly, we will implement a leaner, more transparent organization<br />

by restructuring our corporate support services.<br />

In our second global business, the alignment between our br<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> products has been<br />

strengthened around four <strong>Services</strong> lines. To build our leadership, we will pursue organic growth<br />

opportunities <strong>and</strong> step up our acquisitions strategy.<br />

Against this backdrop, we will ask you, our shareholders, at the Annual Meeting on May 10, to<br />

approve an ordinary dividend of €1.15 per share, a 10% increase over last year.<br />

Backed by the skills <strong>and</strong> dedication of our 168,000 employees <strong>and</strong> the support of our shareholders,<br />

we will leverage our increasingly powerful br<strong>and</strong>s to improve our operating margin <strong>and</strong> return on<br />

capital employed in the years ahead.<br />

You can contact the Accor Shareholder Relations Team<br />

by phone at 33 (1) 45 38 86 94,<br />

by mail at comfi@accor.com ■ or visit www.accor.com/finance<br />

Accor - Retail Shareholder Relations<br />

Tour Maine Montparnasse - 33 avenue du Maine - 75755 Paris cedex 15 - France<br />

Gilles C. Pélisson<br />

Chief Executive Officer<br />

page 8


2<br />

■ €7,622m: up 7.9%<br />

Revenue for the year was up €558<br />

million over the €7,064 million reported<br />

in 2004.<br />

+4.7%<br />

+4.5%<br />

-2.5%<br />

+1.2%<br />

■ €1,986m: up 8.8%<br />

EBITDAR rose by €161 million for the<br />

year, from €1,825 million in 2004. Of<br />

that increase, €115 million was generated<br />

by business growth. Ebitdar<br />

margin amounted to 26.1%, compared<br />

to 25.8% in 2004. Like-for-like, the<br />

increase was 0.4 points.<br />

■ €603m: up 17.6%<br />

Operating profit before tax <strong>and</strong> nonrecurring<br />

items was up €90 million<br />

over the €513 million reported in 2004.<br />

The increase reflected the gradual<br />

improvement in margins <strong>and</strong> the efficient<br />

management of fixed asset holding<br />

costs (rental expense, depreciation,<br />

amortization <strong>and</strong> provision expense,<br />

<strong>and</strong> financial expense), which represented<br />

18.2% of revenue, compared<br />

with 18.6% in 2004.<br />

2005 ANNUAL RESULTS<br />

Accor's results showed sharp improvement in 2005, thanks to a more<br />

favorable hotel cycle <strong>and</strong> sharp growth in the services business. The<br />

balance sheet was also considerably strengthened.<br />

Like-for-like<br />

Expansion<br />

Disposals<br />

Currency impact<br />

+7.9% Total (reported)<br />

Breakdown of 2005<br />

revenue growth<br />

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS - APRIL 2006<br />

■ €333m: up 42.9%<br />

Net profit, Group share increased by<br />

a sharp €100 million to €333 million,<br />

from €233 million in 2004. Earnings<br />

per share rose to €1.55 from €1.17<br />

in 2004, based on the weighted average<br />

214,782,601 shares outst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />

in 2005.<br />

■ €935m: up 9.6%<br />

Funds from operations increased by<br />

€82 million over the €853 million<br />

reported in 2004.<br />

■ €449m: up 43%<br />

Expenditure for renovation <strong>and</strong><br />

maintenance of assets increased by<br />

€135 million for the year, in line with<br />

Group strategy, <strong>and</strong> represented<br />

5.9% of revenue, versus 4.4% in<br />

2004.<br />

■ €479m: up 28.8%<br />

Excluding €308 million for the acquisition<br />

of a stake in Club Méditerranée,<br />

development expenditure rose by<br />

€107 million over the €372 million<br />

reported in 2004.<br />

■ 32% versus 71%<br />

The net debt-to-equity ratio improved<br />

significantly, as equity rose by €822<br />

million, while net debt declined to an<br />

all-time low of €1,420 million, from<br />

€2,244 million in 2004.<br />

■ 10.7% versus 10.0%<br />

Return on capital employed improved<br />

in both the <strong>Hotels</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Services</strong> businesses.<br />

€2.40 €2.18<br />

€1.15: up 9.5%<br />

€1.36 €1.17 €1.55<br />

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005<br />

IFRS IFRS<br />

Earnings per share<br />

■ €236m: up 28.3%<br />

Based on ROCE after tax of 8.6%, a<br />

weighted average cost of capital of<br />

6.5% (versus 6.4% in 2004) <strong>and</strong> capital<br />

employed of €11.3 billion (€10.9 billion<br />

in 2004), EVA ® (Economic value<br />

added) [(ROCE after tax – weighted<br />

average cost of capital) x capital<br />

employed] totaled €236 million, a<br />

28.3% increase over 2004.<br />

The dividend to be submitted<br />

for approval to the Annual<br />

Shareholders' Meeting on May 10*<br />

compares to an ordinary dividend<br />

of €1.05 <strong>and</strong> an exceptional dividend<br />

of €0.25 paid for 2004. It<br />

corresponds to a payout of 74%<br />

of earnings per share for the year.<br />

*The Annual Shareholders’ Meeting is webcasted<br />

live <strong>and</strong> recorded for later viewing at<br />

www.accor.com.<br />

Holders of registered shares <strong>and</strong> members<br />

of the Accor Shareholders Club who have so<br />

requested received the notice of meeting in<br />

April. It is also sent on request (see contact<br />

information on page 1).


HOTELS<br />

Revitalizing the br<strong>and</strong>s will make it<br />

possible to capture the full value of the<br />

leadership levers Accor derives from<br />

its size, positioning <strong>and</strong> image.<br />

■ In terms of operations, more powerful<br />

br<strong>and</strong>s will more effectively drive revenue<br />

growth.<br />

■ Strong br<strong>and</strong>s will enable the Group<br />

to attract the best talent <strong>and</strong> enhance<br />

its human capital, while accelerating<br />

expansion.<br />

■ Lastly, in terms of asset management,<br />

more powerful br<strong>and</strong>s will heighten<br />

Accor's profile, thereby supporting its<br />

strategy of partnering with leading real<br />

estate companies around the world.<br />

Accor needs to redefine the identity of<br />

its br<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> above all promote them<br />

to enhance their visibility. It also needs<br />

to improve its knowledge of customers<br />

to more effectively satisfy their needs.<br />

STRATEGY:<br />

FIRST OUTLINES<br />

Accor is solidly anchored in two global core businesses:<br />

<strong>Hotels</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Services</strong>.<br />

■ MAKING THE BRANDS EVEN MORE ATTRACTIVE<br />

Asset management lever<br />

Deepen partnerships with<br />

leading real estate companies<br />

Operational levers<br />

Operational management ● Purchasing ● IT systems<br />

● Sales <strong>and</strong> Marketing ● Communication ● Human Resources<br />

LEVERAGE OUR POWERFUL BRANDS AND COMPETITIVELY<br />

DIFFERENTIATED, INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS TO CAPITALIZE<br />

ON OUR “LEADERSHIP DRIVERS”<br />

Development lever<br />

Speed growth through owned<br />

properties, management <strong>and</strong><br />

franchise contracts<br />

OUR AMBITION: CUSTOMER-FOCUSED BRANDS<br />

Strategic marketing<br />

<strong>and</strong> innovation<br />

A structured, global Strategic Marketing<br />

Department will help Accor meet these<br />

goals, while promoting the creation of<br />

innovative products that have always set<br />

the Group apart from the competition.<br />

Accor created Novotel, Ibis, Formule 1<br />

<strong>and</strong> Etap Hotel <strong>and</strong> must continue to<br />

proactively respond to emerging trends<br />

in lodging concepts <strong>and</strong> product<br />

developments.<br />

Beginning this summer, these repositioned<br />

br<strong>and</strong>s will be more widely<br />

publicized across Europe, thanks to a<br />

targeted advertising campaign. Webbased<br />

marketing initiatives will be<br />

stepped up <strong>and</strong> the accorhotels.com<br />

portal <strong>and</strong> individual br<strong>and</strong> websites<br />

must become industry benchmarks.<br />

Lastly, loyalty programs will be revitalized<br />

to take into account the different needs<br />

of customers, especially during the week<br />

<strong>and</strong> on weekends.<br />

■ Differentiating <strong>and</strong> promoting<br />

the hotel br<strong>and</strong>s<br />

Upper upscale<br />

192 hotels<br />

41,000 rooms<br />

52 countries<br />

Ambition: create a more<br />

consistent network, present in leading<br />

cities <strong>and</strong> resorts on all continents.<br />

Upscale <strong>and</strong> midscale<br />

398 hotels<br />

69,000 rooms<br />

56 countries<br />

Ambition: consolidate the<br />

br<strong>and</strong>'s global presence in<br />

major national <strong>and</strong> international cities<br />

<strong>and</strong> resorts, <strong>and</strong> renew the focus on<br />

innovation.<br />

738 hotels<br />

87,000 rooms<br />

49 countries<br />

Ambition: become the benchmark in<br />

non-st<strong>and</strong>ardized hotels, with the goal of<br />

developing large franchise networks in the<br />

upscale segment with Gr<strong>and</strong> Mercure <strong>and</strong><br />

the midscale segment with Mercure.<br />

Economy<br />

720 hotels<br />

79,000 rooms<br />

36 countries<br />

Ambition: become the world<br />

leader in its segment by positioning<br />

the br<strong>and</strong> as the right product for<br />

deployment on all continents, especially in<br />

emerging markets for regional customers, with<br />

its st<strong>and</strong>ardized rooms <strong>and</strong> theme restaurants.<br />

344 hotels<br />

38,000 rooms<br />

United States<br />

Ambition: grow the br<strong>and</strong> from<br />

a regional to a national chain,<br />

primarily through franchising<br />

<strong>and</strong> capitalizing on a renovated room that<br />

delivers near-midscale comfort at economy<br />

rates.<br />

Budget<br />

905 hotels<br />

94,000 rooms<br />

United States <strong>and</strong> Canada<br />

Ambition: maintain its leadership<br />

positioning as the budget<br />

hotel network offering "the best price of<br />

any national chain".<br />

331 hotels 377 hotels<br />

27,000 rooms 29,000 rooms<br />

11 countries 12 countries<br />

Ambition: clarify the use of these br<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong><br />

remain the global leader in budget hotels.<br />

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS - APRIL 2006<br />

3


■ FROM BRAND SEGMENTATION<br />

TO DIFFERENTIATED OPERATING STRUCTURES<br />

Sensitivity to economic cycles varies<br />

from one segment to another, resulting<br />

in greater or lesser volatility in earnings<br />

<strong>and</strong> return on capital employed. The<br />

upscale hotel segment, for example, is<br />

more sensitive to these cycles than the<br />

economy segment <strong>and</strong> delivers a lower<br />

return on capital employed. Revenue per<br />

available room (RevPAR), which is defined<br />

as occupancy rate times average<br />

room rate, may vary between cycle highs<br />

<strong>and</strong> lows for a Sofitel establishment<br />

while remaining unchanged for an Ibis or<br />

a Formule 1. Similarly, a Sofitel generates<br />

ROCE of 4 to 8%, compared with<br />

13 to 15% for an Ibis, Etap Hotel or<br />

Formule 1.<br />

Rationalizing<br />

the hotel portfolio<br />

Gr<strong>and</strong> Mercure Cabourg - France<br />

Based on these observations,<br />

an in-depth<br />

analysis of the portfolio<br />

has made it possible<br />

to classify hotel<br />

assets in new categories.<br />

■ Strategic hotels,<br />

whose operating<br />

structures need to<br />

be tailored to return<br />

on capital employed<br />

<strong>and</strong> earnings volatility.<br />

This means management<br />

contracts in the<br />

upper upscale segment,<br />

variable leases in the midscale<br />

segment, variable or fixed leases <strong>and</strong><br />

franchise agreements in the economy<br />

segment in Europe, <strong>and</strong> franchise<br />

agreements in the economy segment<br />

in the United States.<br />

■ Non-strategic hotels, which deliver a<br />

low return <strong>and</strong>/or are situated in relatively<br />

unfavorable locations <strong>and</strong> could be<br />

sold, either outright or through sale &<br />

franchise-back arrangements.<br />

Sofitel Buenos Aires - Argentina<br />

4 LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS - APRIL 2006<br />

Optimizing<br />

financing<br />

structures<br />

for strategic<br />

hotels<br />

Accor’s property<br />

strategy is global<br />

<strong>and</strong> involves partnering<br />

with real estate investors whose<br />

profiles differ, depending on the market<br />

segment <strong>and</strong> country. <strong>Hotels</strong> that<br />

are sold are owned or leased with an<br />

option to buy (in which case the option<br />

is sold), for which a new contract is<br />

signed.<br />

In the upper upscale segment,<br />

Accor’s objective is to sell the hotels to<br />

real estate partners <strong>and</strong> then manage<br />

them under the same banner for very<br />

long periods (at least 25 years). In this<br />

way, Accor operates as a service<br />

provider, paid with a management fee,<br />

without making any capital investment<br />

(or possibly retaining around a 25%<br />

stake in the acquiring company). In the<br />

midscale segment, earnings volatility<br />

is minimized through a flexible cost<br />

structure: long-term variable leases<br />

(60 years) based on a percentage of<br />

revenues with no minimum<br />

guaranteed.<br />

Achievements<br />

<strong>and</strong> action plans<br />

In the midscale segment,<br />

128 Novotel, Mercure<br />

<strong>and</strong> Ibis hotel properties<br />

in France were sold to<br />

Foncière des Murs in<br />

2005 <strong>and</strong> leased back<br />

at variable rents equal to<br />

15.5% of revenue. Each<br />

12-year lease may be<br />

rolled over four times.<br />

In early 2006, a second tranche of 76<br />

hotels of which five thalassotherapy<br />

centers in France <strong>and</strong> Belgium were<br />

sold to Foncière des Murs <strong>and</strong> leased<br />

back at rents equivalent to 14% of<br />

revenue.<br />

In the upper upscale segment, six Sofitel<br />

units in the United States, of which four<br />

were leased, are now being operated<br />

under 25-year management contracts<br />

that can be rolled over for three ten-year<br />

periods. Accor has retained a 25%<br />

interest in the joint venture formed with<br />

the US real estate investment funds<br />

that now own the properties.<br />

Another 14 Sofitel units in Europe,<br />

seven of which are leased with an<br />

option to buy, will be transferred to a<br />

management contract system by 2008.<br />

In the midscale <strong>and</strong> economy segments,<br />

130 hotels in Europe (of which 75%<br />

that are currently leased with an option<br />

to buy) will be sold <strong>and</strong> leased back<br />

under variable leases.<br />

Around 200 non-strategic hotels across<br />

all segments <strong>and</strong> on all continents may<br />

be sold. Fifty of them have in fact<br />

already been sold, including the<br />

Sofitel Paris Forum Rive Gauche in<br />

early 2006.<br />

These transactions will result in a<br />

significant decrease in the number<br />

of hotels that are owned or operated<br />

under fixed leases, especially in the<br />

upper upscale segment (see table<br />

below). Disposal of these assets is<br />

expected to generate €1.5 billion in<br />

cash for the period 2005-2008 <strong>and</strong><br />

improve return on capital employed<br />

by 0.6 points.<br />

Upper<br />

Upscale<br />

Midscale<br />

Economy<br />

Europe<br />

Economy<br />

US<br />

2004<br />

Owned Managed<br />

Fixed Franchised<br />

leases Variable leases<br />

2008<br />

Owned Managed<br />

Fixed Franchised<br />

leases Variable leases<br />

51% 49% 11% 89%<br />

55% 45% 27% 73%<br />

71% 29% 47% 53%<br />

84% 16% 82% 18%<br />

Change in Holding Structure 2004 – 2008<br />

(excl. Development) in Mature Markets


■ NEW RESOURCES:<br />

FOR WHAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT?<br />

Anticipating changes in global<br />

dem<strong>and</strong>, Accor plans to open more<br />

than 200,000 new rooms by 2010, of<br />

which half in economy <strong>and</strong> budget<br />

hotels. Accor's expertise in production<br />

processes <strong>and</strong> holding structures<br />

provides indisputable strengths in<br />

pursuing this program.<br />

Two-thirds<br />

of openings<br />

in emerging markets<br />

Between now <strong>and</strong> 2015, nearly 50%<br />

of growth in the global economy will<br />

come from emerging markets, where<br />

business development, increasing<br />

purchasing power <strong>and</strong> declining air<br />

fares are encouraging both business<br />

<strong>and</strong> leisure travel.<br />

Since dem<strong>and</strong> is mainly for affordable<br />

lodging, the potential for developing<br />

economy hotels is especially high.<br />

Novotel St. Petersburg - Russia<br />

Ibis Tianjin<br />

China<br />

Moreover, hotel chains are still not<br />

particularly present in these markets<br />

<strong>and</strong> their growing importance, along<br />

with local economic development, will<br />

drive further segmentation in the hotel<br />

industry.<br />

Sofitel Xian - China<br />

The countries being most<br />

closely targeted are China,<br />

of course, as well as Brazil,<br />

India <strong>and</strong> Russia—markets in<br />

which Accor currently operates<br />

just 150 hotels.<br />

70% under<br />

management<br />

contracts or<br />

franchise agreements<br />

The level of risk Accor is<br />

willing to take depends on a<br />

market's growth potential. At<br />

present, management contracts are<br />

the preferred operating structure in<br />

emerging markets, regardless of the<br />

country or the br<strong>and</strong>. Because of<br />

improvements in the economic <strong>and</strong><br />

political environment, financial partnerships<br />

can now be envisioned in<br />

some countries, through joint ventures<br />

or even equity investments, such as<br />

Red Roof Inn Philadelphia - United States<br />

for Ibis in China. The first hotels<br />

opened have shown high return on<br />

capital employed.<br />

In mature markets, where Accor's<br />

chains already offer dense coverage,<br />

expansion will continue without<br />

excessive capital investment (see<br />

above) <strong>and</strong> account for one-third of<br />

the 200,000 new rooms.<br />

In the United States, Motel 6 will<br />

pursue its expansion through franchise<br />

agreements, leveraging its strong<br />

br<strong>and</strong> recognition (with an occupancy<br />

rate 10 points higher than the competition)<br />

<strong>and</strong> its strategic fit with Red<br />

Roof Inn. The Motel 6 network will be<br />

made more aligned <strong>and</strong> the Red Roof<br />

Inn network more geographically<br />

balanced, especially by exp<strong>and</strong>ing in<br />

California.<br />

Motel 6 Las Vegas - United States<br />

For the period 2006-2010, Accor<br />

plans to invest some €2.5 billion in<br />

developing its hotel portfolio, with<br />

a ROCE objective of 15% in 2010,<br />

compared with 10% today.<br />

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS - APRIL 2006<br />

5


The business originated<br />

with an outst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />

product:<br />

the Ticket Restaurant ®<br />

meal voucher, which<br />

was created in the<br />

late fifties to enable employers who<br />

did not have a staff restaurant to offer<br />

their employees a subsidized lunch.<br />

Along with Ticket Alimentacion ®,<br />

which is used for food purchases in<br />

supermarkets across Latin America,<br />

Ticket Restaurant® generates 78% of<br />

service business revenue.<br />

In response to emerging needs, Accor<br />

<strong>Services</strong> has exp<strong>and</strong>ed this approach<br />

over the years, launching a wide range<br />

of other products <strong>and</strong> services that<br />

are deployed in four services lines—<br />

three for companies <strong>and</strong> one for institutions<br />

(see box).<br />

Other countries<br />

4%<br />

North<br />

America<br />

1%<br />

France<br />

20%<br />

Latin<br />

America<br />

39%<br />

2005 <strong>Services</strong> Revenue<br />

by Region<br />

This innovative, efficient business has<br />

become the global industry leader,<br />

with operations in 35 countries. It now<br />

must continue deploying products<br />

<strong>and</strong> services to drive sustained organic<br />

growth while stepping up the pace<br />

of acquisitions.<br />

Three growth drivers<br />

Accor <strong>Services</strong>' markets are growing<br />

rapidly in the current environment.<br />

Higher living st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>and</strong> dem<strong>and</strong><br />

FOCUS ON… ACCOR SERVICES:<br />

WIDENING OUR LEAD<br />

Creating a strategic fit with the hotels business, because of its low capital<br />

intensity <strong>and</strong> sensitivity to economic cycles, Accor's second business<br />

enjoys solid margins <strong>and</strong> high potential for long-term growth.<br />

Europe<br />

(excl. France)<br />

36%<br />

6 LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS - APRIL 2006<br />

for better working conditions are the<br />

main reasons, albeit with major differences<br />

depending on economic <strong>and</strong><br />

social conditions. In mature markets,<br />

dem<strong>and</strong> for sophisticated, differentiated<br />

products is being driven by increases<br />

in the percentage of women in the<br />

workforce <strong>and</strong> in travel time, as well as<br />

by a growing need for a better worklife<br />

balance <strong>and</strong> retirement financing<br />

solutions. In emerging markets, initiatives<br />

to provide life's basic needs <strong>and</strong><br />

reduce unreported employment have<br />

created dem<strong>and</strong> for simple, reliable<br />

products.<br />

The second growth driver is the<br />

convergence of stakeholder interests.<br />

Government authorities, especially in<br />

France <strong>and</strong> Belgium, want to create<br />

jobs in the people care sector, reduce<br />

unreported employment, <strong>and</strong> ensure<br />

that allocated funds are used as<br />

intended. Companies, for their part,<br />

want to increase employee loyalty,<br />

through a modular compensation policy<br />

that offers tax-exempt solutions to<br />

help boost purchasing power, while<br />

improving productivity. For beneficiaries,<br />

the goal is to provide additional<br />

income, incentives <strong>and</strong> recognition.<br />

And for restaurants, supermarkets,<br />

service stations <strong>and</strong> other affiliates,<br />

the objective is to increase revenue.<br />

The third growth driver involves using<br />

the Internet, terminals, databases <strong>and</strong><br />

other technology-driven opportunities<br />

to win new customers, like small <strong>and</strong><br />

mid-size businesses. The goal is to<br />

improve underst<strong>and</strong>ing of users <strong>and</strong><br />

affiliates so that they can be informed<br />

<strong>and</strong> provided with new products <strong>and</strong><br />

services. Products are becoming<br />

easier to use, thanks to magnetic <strong>and</strong><br />

microchip cards that are gradually<br />

replacing vouchers, for obvious reasons<br />

of convenience, security <strong>and</strong> costsavings.<br />

The number of cardholders<br />

now totals 4.7 million (of which 1.6 million<br />

loyalty cards) in 16 countries, including<br />

Brazil, France, Sweden, Mexico, Turkey<br />

<strong>and</strong> China.<br />

Pursuing<br />

organic growth<br />

Every year, Accor <strong>Services</strong> develops<br />

new products, introduces existing<br />

products in new markets <strong>and</strong> sets up<br />

operations in new countries. This<br />

strategy requires close relations with<br />

the various countries, whose legal <strong>and</strong><br />

regulatory frameworks are of crucial<br />

importance. Changes in legislation<br />

may create new beneficiary categories<br />

in traditional markets (e.g. French <strong>and</strong><br />

Italian civil servants have been entitled<br />

to Ticket Restaurant® since 2004) or<br />

increase tax-exemption ceilings (e.g.<br />

for childcare services in the United<br />

Kingdom or for public transportation<br />

in the United States since 2005).<br />

2005 <strong>Services</strong><br />

Key Figures<br />

Revenue:<br />

€630 million<br />

(8% of Accor revenue)<br />

Operating profit before tax<br />

<strong>and</strong> non recurring items:<br />

€226 million<br />

(37% of Accor total)<br />

Ebitdar margin:<br />

40.4%


Service providers<br />

1million affiliates<br />

Individual users,<br />

personal life<br />

Accor <strong>Services</strong>' business model is based on its ability to bring together stakeholders<br />

<strong>and</strong> to leverage its expertise in managing customer relationships <strong>and</strong><br />

transaction flows. 90% of the business's revenue is generated by commissions<br />

paid by customers <strong>and</strong> service providers.<br />

Stepping up the pace<br />

of acquisitions<br />

Acquisition opportunities enable Accor<br />

<strong>Services</strong> to procure expertise that<br />

can then be developed. The recent<br />

purchase of Delicard in Finl<strong>and</strong> is one<br />

example. A gift voucher that enables<br />

beneficiaries to choose from a variety<br />

of gourmet food products, Delicard is<br />

widely distributed by companies for<br />

the year-end holidays <strong>and</strong> will be<br />

developed in Belgium <strong>and</strong> Germany.<br />

Acquisitions are also used to increase<br />

market share. The purchase of<br />

Commuter Check ®, a US leader in<br />

transit benefits with operations in 15<br />

cities, provides Accor <strong>Services</strong> with a<br />

nationwide product <strong>and</strong> will make it<br />

the country's leading issuer of transit<br />

vouchers.<br />

Partnerships are another<br />

means of consolidating leadership<br />

positions. To issue France's<br />

new people care vouchers<br />

(CESU), a joint company was<br />

created last December in which<br />

Accor holds a 60% stake <strong>and</strong><br />

Caisse d'Epargne the remaining<br />

40%. Bien-Etre à la Carte ®, an<br />

Accor <strong>Services</strong> subsidiary, <strong>and</strong><br />

Europ Assistance have also joined<br />

forces to create Bien-<br />

Etre Assistance ®, a business<br />

Beneficiaries<br />

21million users<br />

Individual users,<br />

working life<br />

Groups of users,<br />

working life<br />

Companies<br />

Customers<br />

340,000 companies <strong>and</strong><br />

public institutions<br />

Public<br />

institutions<br />

platform for offering people care services<br />

that is available to companies <strong>and</strong><br />

institutions.<br />

In all, €500 million will be invested<br />

in the <strong>Services</strong> business over the next<br />

five years, with the pace of acquisitions<br />

to accelerate as products are<br />

developed <strong>and</strong> a ROCE objective<br />

of 20%.<br />

Accor <strong>Services</strong> is committed to ranking<br />

first in all its markets, demonstrating leadership<br />

in innovation while maintaining<br />

double-digit growth in earnings.<br />

Four service<br />

lines<br />

of which three for companies <strong>and</strong><br />

one for institutions<br />

Employee benefits<br />

(78% of revenue)<br />

for a better work-life balance<br />

■ Two flagship products: Ticket<br />

Restaurant ® meal vouchers in mature<br />

markets <strong>and</strong> Ticket Alimentacion ®<br />

food vouchers in emerging markets.<br />

■ An array of new solutions, including<br />

childcare, transport <strong>and</strong> pension<br />

vouchers, as well as a new people<br />

care voucher, issued in support of<br />

the French government's CESU<br />

program, which has a promising<br />

future.<br />

Incentive <strong>and</strong> loyalty<br />

programs<br />

(12% of revenue)<br />

Accor <strong>Services</strong> designs <strong>and</strong><br />

manages incentive campaigns<br />

<strong>and</strong> loyalty programs through its<br />

Accentiv' consulting br<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong><br />

offers gift vouchers, gift catalogues<br />

<strong>and</strong> other special offers through<br />

its Compliments ® br<strong>and</strong>. These<br />

products are sold to companies'<br />

sales <strong>and</strong> marketing departments<br />

in 24 countries.<br />

Expense management<br />

(5% of revenue)<br />

To help companies control <strong>and</strong><br />

manage business-related expenses,<br />

Accor <strong>Services</strong> markets a<br />

range of products for automotive<br />

fuel with Tarjeta Gasolina ® in<br />

Latin America, fleet vehicle maintenance<br />

with Ticket Car ® <strong>and</strong><br />

work clothing/uniform cleaning<br />

with Clean Way ® in France, the<br />

United Kingdom <strong>and</strong> the<br />

Netherl<strong>and</strong>s.<br />

Social programs<br />

(5% of revenue)<br />

Solutions like Ticket Service ®<br />

enable local authorities to ensure<br />

the proper use <strong>and</strong> traceability of<br />

public funds earmarked for specific<br />

groups.<br />

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS - APRIL 2006<br />

7


SPECIAL OFFERS<br />

Bordeaux invites you to a wine celebration<br />

From June 29 to<br />

July 2, hotels in the<br />

Bordeaux region will<br />

organize concerts,<br />

an art exhibition <strong>and</strong><br />

an enormous table<br />

d'hôte, in the true<br />

tradition of Southwestern<br />

France. Don't<br />

miss this exciting<br />

event.<br />

Novotel Le Lac<br />

Arriving guests will receive a winetasting<br />

pass entitling them to visit the<br />

st<strong>and</strong>s of participating Bordeaux<br />

vineyards <strong>and</strong> sample their vintages.<br />

€49 instead of €69<br />

Per person rate for one night in a double<br />

room, breakfast buffet <strong>and</strong> a wine<br />

festival pass.<br />

Discover the br<strong>and</strong> new<br />

Novotel in Paris<br />

Ideally located in a neighborhood known for its famous brasseries, the<br />

Novotel Paris Gare Montparnasse invites you, for its May 10 opening,<br />

to discover the hotel's 200 rooms featuring all the latest comfort <strong>and</strong><br />

technological amenities. Accor shareholders are entitled to a special<br />

15% discount.<br />

Information <strong>and</strong> bookings by phone at +33 (0)1 53 91 23 75<br />

or e-mail at h5060@acccor.com<br />

Valid every day from May 10 to August 31, 2006, depending on availability, on presentation of<br />

this Letter or the Accor Shareholders' Club membership card upon arrival.<br />

Join the Accor<br />

Shareholders’ Club!<br />

Information, meetings<br />

<strong>and</strong> special offers<br />

For more information, contact the<br />

following hotels in Bordeaux <strong>and</strong><br />

mention this offer:<br />

Mercure Le Lac***: Tel: +33 (0)5 56 43 36 72<br />

Mercure Château Chartrons****: Tel: +33 (0)5 56 43 15 00<br />

Mercure Cité Mondiale****: Tel: +33 (0)5 56 01 79 79<br />

Mercure Aéroport***: Tel: +33 (0)5 56 34 74 74<br />

Mercure Mérignac***: Tel: +33 (0)5 56 55 93 42<br />

Mercure Sud Villenave-d’Ornon**:<br />

Tel: +33 (0)5 56 87 82 86<br />

Novotel Aéroport: Tel: +33 (0)5 57 53 13 30<br />

Novotel Centre Meriadeck: Tel: +33 (0)5 56 51 46 46<br />

Novotel Le Lac: Tel: +33 (0)5 56 43 65 00<br />

Valid every day from June 29 to July 2, depending on<br />

availability. For one or two children, the room (if shared<br />

with parents) <strong>and</strong> breakfast are free of charge, depending<br />

on the hotel.<br />

Gift Month at<br />

Accor Thalassa<br />

From May 28 to July 8, Accor Thalassa<br />

is offering a number of extras in its La<br />

Cure ® by Accor Thalassa spa treatment<br />

package.<br />

■ “My Gift” : the single room supplement<br />

is offered free of charge*, a savings<br />

of up to €1,000 (at Sofitel Thalassa Biarritz)<br />

per spa patient.<br />

*with the exception of Dinard, Quiberon, Dax <strong>and</strong> the<br />

Sofitel Porticcio, Timi Ama <strong>and</strong> Essaouira.<br />

■ “Our Gift” : the sixth day of spa treatment<br />

is offered free of charge*, a savings<br />

of up to €100 (at Ibis Quiberon <strong>and</strong> Sofitel<br />

Thalassa Vichy Les Célestins) per spa patient.<br />

(No reductions for guests not receiving spa treatment).<br />

*with the exception of Dax, Biarritz, Carnac, Dinard<br />

<strong>and</strong> the Sofitel Diététique Quiberon, Thalassa<br />

Quiberon, Essaouira <strong>and</strong> Timi Ama.<br />

(1) These offers are valid from May 28 to July 8 for La<br />

Forme ® by Accor Thalassa spa packages of at least<br />

six days of treatment <strong>and</strong> six nights (with one meal;<br />

with the exception of Résidence Carnac: seven nights<br />

without meals) at Accor Thalassa establishments.<br />

The offers are not retroactive, may not be combined<br />

with other promotions <strong>and</strong> are subject to the availability<br />

of a limited number of rooms in each establishment.<br />

Examples of prices:<br />

La Cure ® by Accor Thalassa package<br />

at the Mercure Thalassa Les Sables<br />

d’Olonne<br />

■ €859 instead of €954 per person<br />

(double room facing east), a savings<br />

of €95<br />

■ €954 instead of €1,134 per person<br />

(single room facing east), a savings of<br />

€180.<br />

(Rates for rooms with a sea view available on request.)<br />

The offer includes six days in the spa<br />

(four treatments a day), six<br />

nights in a double or single<br />

room with one meal included,<br />

<strong>and</strong> unlimited access to the<br />

wellness area, which features<br />

a sauna, Turkish bath, swimming<br />

pool, <strong>and</strong> fitness room.<br />

The Accor Shareholder Extra:<br />

The Accor Thalassa Institute<br />

special offer of moisturizing<br />

body butter <strong>and</strong> sugar scrub.<br />

Generally sold in shops for a combined<br />

total of €49, these two products will be offered as<br />

complimentary gifts in establishments distributing<br />

Accor Thalassa Institute br<strong>and</strong> products, depending on<br />

availability. In case of shortages, guests will be provided<br />

with other products selling at the same price. (Photo<br />

does not necessarily represent the products selected).<br />

Information <strong>and</strong> bookings available<br />

with Accor Thalassa by phone in<br />

France at +33 (0)1 46 62 45 44,<br />

using the «LAAVRIL» password.<br />

The Letter to Shareholders is published by the Accor Investor Relations <strong>and</strong> Financial Communications Department - Tour Maine-Montparnasse - 33, avenue du Maine - 75755 Paris Cedex 15<br />

Publisher: Éliane Rouyer - Design <strong>and</strong> editing: Laurence Duc - Production: GIP Communication<br />

Photo credits: © L.Aubert - © F.Charaffi - © Y.Forestier/Deadline Photo Press - © J.Y.Garcia - © J.Lebar - © D.Lefranc - © F. Rambert - © P.Wang - Accor photo library - All rights reserved

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