LOS ANGELES — With burgeoning optimism in India and hope for an economic turnaround in China, Accor's Jean-Jacques Morin believes 2025 could be a uniquely good year for his company.
Speaking to Hotel News Now during the 2025 Americas Lodging Investment Summit, the French hotel brand company's group deputy CEO and head of the premium, midscale and economy division noted the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions in particular are poised for success due to growing middle-class wealth in those areas.
"The people that can travel within this increasing demographic is getting larger, and you get exactly that going on in places like Saudi, in places like India, just like we saw it happening in China," he said. "This pattern will replicate itself, and that creates immense potential for our business."
He said the optimism around Indian travel has been growing by leaps and bounds, not just because of the increasing middle class but by significant and important infrastructure improvements to support inbound and outbound international travel.
"I think what's happening with India is the potential, to some extent, was always there in terms of the demographic," he said. "What's changing is that now you've got the infrastructure in order to make it happen. India, in last year, has spent 3.5% of their GDP just creating ... airports. There was about 1,000 planes that were purchased in 2023."
For more from HNN's interview with Accor's Jean-Jacques Morin, which includes discussions on the company's ESG efforts, decade-long transformation and more, watch the video above.