Gérard Pélisson, co-founder of Accor, has handed away on the age of 91.
The Accor Group provides its most honest condolences to his family members and extra notably to his nephew, Gilles Pélisson, who has labored for Accor for 17 years, together with 5 years main the Group.
Gérard was an iconic pioneer who, along with co-founder Paul Dubrule, impressed a contemporary method to French hospitality at a time when it was poised for recent concepts. Setting apart his engineering background and a budding profession at IBM, Gérard bravely pursued the standardized lodge enterprise mannequin by way of the creation of US-inspired Novotel in Lille Lesquin, in 1967. This revolutionary endeavor would lay the muse for right now’s Accor.
Throughout his journey, Gérard utilized his intensive community of contacts to leverage alternatives to construct the Group, whereas overseeing its enterprise plans and main monetary tasks. Together with Paul, they achieved main milestones, constructing the Group’s early portfolio which included: founding ibis, Mercure, Sofitel and Formule1, amongst many others.
Gérard was additionally obsessed with sharing his information of the sector with future generations, exemplified in his position as Chairman of the Institut Paul Bocuse. He held a deep conviction that every one roles throughout the hospitality sector be acknowledged for the essential half they performed, regardless of the duty, in contributing to excellent experiences. He can even be remembered as a aggressive golfer who shared his love for the game together with his colleagues when he launched the match ‘Tee Bleu’.
In 1997, Gérard stepped again from main the Group and assumed his position as co-chair of the Supervisory Board alongside Paul.
To honor Gérard’s legacy, Accor groups from around the globe can be paying tribute to utilizing a digital commemoration wall.
