A statement by the company says that the group was experiencingrapid growth in Russia, India and Brazil, but for sheer volumeAccor's focus was mainly on China as brisk economic growth opens ahuge market for domestic travelers.

Accor plans to operate 30 Sofitel hotels in China by the end ofnext year, making the country the second-largest market for thegroup's premier five-star brand, after its home market, France. Acompany spokesman says that within five years China could overtakeFrance. The hotel chain plans to spend euro 2.7 billion ($3.3billion) globally to add at least 200,000 rooms over the next fouryears, compared with the 475,000 rooms it owned or had access to atthe end of last year.

Half the new rooms would be in the economy and budget segment,where earnings have proved more stable. Two-thirds would be inemerging markets. But as the high-end market becomes more mature,Accor sees tremendous possibilities for its budget-hotel brand,Ibis. Accor has only two Ibis hotels in China and plans to open sixin the next 12 months. After that the pace would be increased to 10annually for several years.