NEW SOFITEL PHILADELPHIA MAKES ITS DEBUT

Hong Kong, May, 2000 ------ Sofitel continues to expand its

world-wide network with the opening of Sofitel Philadelphia in North

America, a 306-room hotel located in the city's new French Quarter.

Targeting upscale business and leisure travelers, the Sofitel is located

in the former Philadelphia Stock Exchange Building convenient for the

historic Rittenhouse Square, the Convention Centre, and the city's main

business and tourism districts.

Paris-based Accor purchased the hotel site in June 1998. The US$80

million construction project, which began in early 1999, saw the

conversion of the Stock Exchange Building and an adjacent site into the

14-story, contemporary limestone and glass hotel, designed by Brennan

Beer Gorman Architects of New York.

The interiors, created by Brennan Beer Gorman Monk Interiors, reflect a

"four and half star" elegance, with contemporary styling and attention

to detail. The Sofitel's opening also adds a new restaurant to

Philadelphia's sophisticated culinary scene: Chez Colette, a

traditional French brasserie. The restaurant, which seats 100, will be

open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Additional hotel facilities include two floors of meeting space,

consisting of 12 meeting rooms, and a 5,000 square foot ballroom that

accommodates up to 300 people, a lobby lounge, fitness centre and gift

shop.

Room rates will start at US$219 single or double occupancy, through

until June 30, 2000.

In addition to the Sofitel Philadelphia, Accor North America currently

manages seven other Sofitel hotels in the United States, with Sofitel

New York set to open next month. Sofitel Hotels & Resorts is also

expanding in Asia with the opening of the Sofitel Royal Angkor later

this year at Siem Reap, the site of the legendary Angkor Wat Temple

complex in Cambodia, and also with the September relaunch of the Sofitel

Tokyo, following a complete facelift.

Sofitel Hotels & Resorts, owned by the Accor Group, has 145 hotels in

48 countries. Accor, whose 125,000 associates are active in 140

countries around the world, is the European leader and world-wide group

present in travel, tourism and corporate services with two principal

international businesses :

- Hotels (more than 3,300 hotels) and travel agencies, restaurants and

casinos;

- Services (cards and vouchers) with Accor Corporate Services.