- Orient Express sponsored boat will be racing in
World sailing competition par excellence – 37th America’s Cup. On the boat AC75, Orient Express Team Captained by Quentin Delapierre, a star athlete in international sailing. - ALL – Accor Live Limitless – The loyalty program and Accor digital platform is also the global sponsor of the France SailGP team until 2024.
Paris France – The Accor Group, the world leader in the hotel industry, today announced that Orient Express, legendary tour operator since 1883, will sponsor the French team that will take part in the 37th America’s Cup, to be held in Barcelona in 2024. The America’s Cup is the winner The oldest international sports cup competition and one of the world’s boldest and most prestigious sports projects. Through one of its luxury brands – Orient Express – Accor’s sponsorship demonstrates the group’s growing involvement on the high seas and follows the recent launch of the world’s largest pleasure yacht, Orient Express Selencies, which will be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, a world-leading shipbuilder based in St. Nazaire, France. The Orient Express-sponsored boat will be outfitted by Quentin Delapierre.
Through its loyalty program and the ALL-Accor Live Limitless digital platform, the group is also the global sponsor of the France SailGP team. This partnership began in January 2023 at the Singapore Grand Prix and will continue across all global events until the end of the 2024 season. SailGP is the world’s most exhilarating sailing championship with the most exciting races on high-performance boats.
In line with our global commitments to environmental responsibility, Accor is reinforcing its ambitions to become a key partner in promoting excellence and stimulating innovation, while supporting the French sailing teams. At Accor, passion, adventure and team spirit drive us all, which is why sailing resonates so strongly with us. At 172 years old, the America’s Cup is an icon in the sailing world. Legendary for her history and relentless pursuit of excellence, she is the natural choice for the first competition boat sponsored by Orient Express! Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor
With Accor, France is taking back the America’s Cup in the best way possible
Construction of the Orient Express-sponsored boat — the AC75 — will begin in April this year in Brittany, France, and is expected to be completed in spring 2024. Thanks to a technical partnership with Emirates Airline New Zealand (ETNZ) Team Orient L The Express will compete on Level with their Challenger Selection Series competitors in September 2024 and will aim to take on ETNZ Defender in the Final.
As for the build Orient Express SilencisThe high-tech project will benefit the French economy, the shipping industry and its know-how. The construction of the AC75 will be carried out in part by the same shipbuilders involved in the construction of the Orient Express Silenseas. Together, these projects advance French innovation, capabilities and technological excellence.
Cooperation based on shared values
Orient Express leads the luxury and travel segments into the future with an ambitious and innovative reimagining of the history of sailing. The brand is committed to using its rich heritage to create unique experiences that push the boundaries of what is possible. For 140 years, the legendary hospitality brand has always led the race for excellence by offering unique, tailored travel experiences. The rich heritage and daring spirit of the Orient Express meets its counterpart in the world of sport with the French sailing teams participating in the America’s Cup, which in itself is a magnificent celebration of human and technological excellence, bringing together the best sailing talents in the world to go beyond the impossible. .
With Orient Express and ALL – Accor Live Limitless, Accor supports all competition categories: the America’s Cup, the Junior America’s Cup and the new Women’s America’s Cup. Like Accor in the hotel industry and beyond, the America’s Cup encourages the training of young talent and works in favor of gender equality. The Orient Express sponsored boat will participate in the Women’s Cup and the Men’s Cup. Accor is delighted to be taking part in the championship at this point in its history and happy to support female sailors in a competition that was previously dominated by men.
The partnership will also provide a range of experiences and opportunities for loyal Accor guests and members, allowing them to experience the best in sailing, technology and sport. This experiential dimension of the brand is the main focus of the group’s development. Loyalty program members will be able to participate exclusively in these events (access to new experiences with the team at SailGP events around the world and unique moments behind the scenes with access to the team as they prepare for the biggest challenges of their careers).
We are very happy and proud to wear the colors of Orient Express, the timeless brand of the Accor Group and a legendary name all over the world. The Orient Express has strong ties to France and has been a go-kart since 1883. Accor has committed and a global ambition that will allow our K-Challenge sports platform, which I lead with visionary co-owner Bruno Dubois, to participate in many sports and technological projects that support French knowledge, talent and innovation. Our goal is to revolutionize the world of sailing. Stefan Candler, Founder and CEO, K-Challenge
Promote sustainability and innovation
Participation in the America’s Cup and SailGP in line with Accor’s global commitments to environmental responsibility in the travel industry and more broadly to be an environmental leader in the maritime sector.
Accor has a long history of supporting water-related projects, ensuring its partnerships align with the objectives of the ESG and working to create a sustainable future for the hotel industry. Since 2017, Accor has been supporting the world’s first zero-emission self-driving hydrogen ship, the Energy Observer, whose mission is to develop sustainable solutions and raise awareness of the challenges of ecological transition. The team behind this collaboration is also developing green navigation technology that will be part of the design process for the boats sponsored by Orient Express.
Another example of Accor’s commitment to protecting the oceans, Orient Express Silenseas is specifically designed to support sustainable navigation. The ship will incorporate innovations related to “weather control” Which will optimize the tracks according to the winds and currents, and will also deploy several types of environmentally responsible and sustainable systems. Accor has been a leader in developing sustainable travel experiences and investing in innovation to enable positive hospitality solutions with a lower environmental impact.
In the cadre of ses engagements environnementaux, Accor collabore également étroitement avec Amundi and the Fondation de la Mer, which a developpé un cadre to aid les entreprises à mesurer les impacts et à porter des changes positifs, dans le but commun de preserver les oceans et seas. and sustainable use of marine resources.
About Accor, the world’s leading hospitality company
Accor is a leading global hotel group with 5,300 properties and 10,000 food and beverage outlets in 110 countries. The Group has one of the most diversified and integrated hospitality systems in the industry comprising more than 40 brands of luxury, premium, mid-range and economy hotels, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services and more. . workspaces and more. Accor’s unrivaled position in contemporary hospitality – one of the fastest growing categories in the industry – is led by Ennismore, a joint venture in which Accor holds a majority stake. Ennismore is an innovative hospitality company with a global portfolio of leading brands and companies with one purpose at heart. Accor owns an unrivaled portfolio of iconic brands and employs more than 230,000 employees worldwide. Members benefit from the company’s all-inclusive loyalty programme, Accor Live Limitless – a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a variety of rewards, services and experiences. With global sustainability commitments (such as achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, global elimination of single-use plastics in the hotel guest experience, etc.), Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the group focuses on leading through business ethics. , responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community participation, and diversity and inclusion. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Stock ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, visit groupe.accor.com or follow Accor at TwitterFacebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Charlotte Tivard
Group External Communications Manager
Accor
