Accor has signed 30 new hotels across Asia so far in 2026, and one of them is bringing hotel-branded living to Genting Highlands.
Global hospitality group Accor has added 30 hotel signings across Asia in the first nine months of the year, representing 7,698 keys across every segment from economy to luxury. The deals span 12 markets, from established city destinations to emerging resort locations, and keep the group on course for a fourth consecutive record year of development in the region.
For Malaysian readers, the standout name on the list is Mercure Living Genting Highlands, a branded residential project set to open in 2028.
Midscale Brands Lead the Way for Accor in Asia
The midscale segment did the heavy lifting this year, accounting for roughly 49 percent of keys signed: 16 hotels and more than 3,600 keys across the TRIBE, Mercure, Novotel and Handwritten Collection brands.
Premium brands added seven hotels and 2,200-plus keys, led by Mövenpick, while the economy segment delivered five hotels and 1,200 keys, led by ibis Styles. At the top end, the luxury and lifestyle segments, home to names such as Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, SLS and 25hours, contributed two hotels with 583 keys.
Indonesia and Vietnam Set the Pace
Indonesia is the group’s busiest market in Asia this year, with 13 hotels and more than 2,800 keys signed across Jakarta, Bali, Batam and Yogyakarta. Vietnam follows with six hotels and 2,600-plus keys in Danang and Phu Quoc.
Vietnam also delivered a regional first: the group became the first international hospitality company to register its brands for franchising there. Franchising interest is building in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore too, as owners look for flexible ways to tap into an international platform. Conversion-friendly brands such as Mercure, Handwritten Collection, ibis Styles and Mövenpick are drawing owners who want to reposition existing assets while plugging into global distribution and the ALL Accor loyalty programme.
New Brands for a New Generation of Travellers
2026 also marks the arrival of a new lifestyle-led economy brand in the region. The first greet hotel in Asia opened in Bangkok this year, built around the brand’s feel-good hospitality for value-conscious travellers. Accor is also advancing plans to bring JO&JOE, its reimagined hostel brand, to Asia in the future.
Mercure Living Genting Highlands: What Malaysia Gets
Branded residences have become one of the fastest-growing corners of global hospitality, and the group develops them through a dedicated platform, Accor One Living. Across Asia, the group reports a high level of interest in mixed-use projects as well as standalone homeowner communities.
Projects announced over the past 12 months include Raffles Residences Bali in Indonesia, SLS Residences Phuket Kamala and SLS Residences Bangkok Sukhumvit 24 in Thailand, and Mercure Living Genting Highlands in Malaysia.
The artist’s impression shows two slender residential towers rising from a curved podium above the forested slopes of Pahang’s hill resort. For Genting Highlands, a destination long known for its theme parks and cool mountain air, it adds a hotel-branded residential option, and it fits a wider pattern of international hotel groups deepening their footprint in Malaysia.
A Record Run, Says the Group’s Asia Development Chief
Andrew Langdon, Accor’s Chief Development Officer for Asia, said 2026 is shaping up to be another record year, with signings on track to deliver a fourth consecutive year of record growth in the region. More owners, he added, are recognising the value of joining a platform that combines internationally recognised brands, global distribution and ALL Accor to drive revenue and support the long-term performance of their assets.
With more than 45 brands spanning luxury, lifestyle, premium, midscale and economy, flexible development models and a powerful loyalty platform, the group says it is well placed to capture the next phase of hospitality growth across Asia, expanding in established destinations while unlocking opportunities in high-potential markets.
Figures are as of 30 September 2026 and cover Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and the Maldives.
