Mercure is a French midscale hotel chain owned by Accor.[2] Created in 1973 in France, the brand was acquired by Accor in 1975, and subsequently became a major part of the company's midscale hotel portfolio, alongside Novotel. As of 2021, Mercure operated 949 hotels in 63 countries.[1] Outside Europe, Accor additionally uses the Grand Mercure brand, an upscale subsidiary in currently 12 countries.
In 1989, Mercure opened its 100th hotel.[4] In 1991, following Accor's acquisition of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, the Altea hotels acquired through this deal became Mercure hotels.[3] Several hotel brands purchased by Accor throughout the 1990s (Parthénon, Libertel, Jardins de Paris, Frantour, All Seasons) were also rebranded into Mercure hotels.[5]
By 2001, 655 Mercure hotels were in operation worldwide.[3] In 2007, following the launch of Accor's new brands MGallery, Pullman Hotels and Resorts and All Seasons, the group allocated several of its Mercure-branded locations to the development of those new brands.[6]
In 2010, Mercure launched an expansive refurbishment program for its hotel rooms.[7][8] In 2011, Accor signed a deal with Jupiter Hotels in the United Kingdom to rebrand 24 of their properties into Mercure hotels.[9] In 2012, Mercure opened in China the first Grand Mercure branded Mei Jue for the Chinese market.[10] In 2015, Mercure launched in Colombia[11] and opened three Grand Mercure hotels in Brazil.[12]
