Life is Magnifique

With the aim of becoming the leading French and European ambassador in the international hotel sector, which is mainly dominated by brands from Asia and the English-speaking world, Sofitel seeks to assert its position in the world of luxury. At the very end of 2010 and in 2011, Sofitel opened nine hotels, including three flagship hotels: Sofitel So Mauritius (Mauritius), Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom (Austria) and Sofitel Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

The brand also experienced development in Morocco (Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa), in China with its first hotel in Canton (Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich), in Equatorial Guinea (Sofitel Malabo Sipopo), in the Kingdom of Bahrein with the first thalassotherapy in the Middle East (Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa) and in Turkmenistan (Sofitel Ashgabat Oguzkent). And finally, after three years of construction work, the legendary Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan reopened its doors in Egypt.

In addition, Sofitel is speeding up its growth in Europe and Asia with the signing of eight important new contracts in key cities for the brand: one in Morocco (Tamuda Bay), four in rapidly-growing secondary cities in China (Kunming, Wuxi, Foshan, Changsha), one in Germany (Frankfurt), one in Ukraine (Kiev), and one in Singapore.

Sofitel enlists the talents of the top names in design and architecture. Recently, French architect Jean Nouvel designed the first Austrian Sofitel in Vienna, the Moroccan designer Karim Chakor and the French Didier Gomez redesigned the Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses, Kenzo Takada and Lek Bunnag worked on Sofitel So Mauritius, while Sybille de Margerie participated in the renovation of two Sofitel Legend hotels, Sofitel Old Cataract and the Sofitel The Grand in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Sofitel draws on its French origins to develop a unique approach to F&B. Through gastronomic events such as Stars, Food & Art, Gastronomic Weeks and the “Bûche de Noël” (Yule log), Sofitel hotels offer their guests a genuine experience by giving them a taste of French culinary tradition. Sofitel also celebrates its French cultural heritage through international events such as the Fête de la Musique and the unique Brigitte Bardot photo exhibition scheduled to run throughout 2012 between four Sofitel hotels in the United States: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington and New York.

Finally, for a perfect night’s sleep at Sofitel or in your own home, MyBed™, the huge and supremely comfortable bed, is available in all the hotels in the network, along with a feather duvet and top mattress for the ultimate soft and enveloping rest experience.

• www.sofitel.com
  
  
  
  ** 112 hotels in the MEGA portfolio vs. 120 hotels through TARS reservation system