Accor is working with Bureau Veritas, a world-leading provider in testing, inspection and certification, to develop a label certifying that the appropriate safety standards and cleaning protocols have been achieved to allow businesses to reopen.

“Welcoming, protecting and taking care of others is the very DNA of Accor and at the heart of what we do,” says Franck Gervais, CEO, Europe Accor. “Today, more than ever, our employees, customers and partners need to be reassured of our ability to offer them the best welcome possible. As the European leader in hospitality, it is our duty to anticipate needs and respond to health and safety requirements by adhering to the highest standards. We are pleased to be pioneering this drive with Bureau Veritas and to extend it to all stakeholders.”

The new label will cover accommodation and f&b operations and will set the sanitary standards applicable to all of Accor’s hotels as well as to other chains and independent hotels. The project was carried out in partnership with doctors and epidemiologists and has been developed in collaboration with Accor owners and trade associations.

The project is being shared with Alliance France Tourism as well as the relevant government ministries (Tourism, Health, Labour) so they are involved in and validate the recommended standards. Concrete proposals will be submitted, in France and subsequently Europe, to the various governments, ministries and committees for the easing of lockdown measures.

This collective effort will result in a guide, available to all stakeholders in the hospitality industry, enabling them to rigorously apply the health and safety recommendation of authorities (World Health Organization, Health Ministry, etc.) both in guest services spaces and in back office and catering spaces.

European consumers the ability to check to see if a hotel or restaurant has been certified on a dedicated Bureau Veritas website.

“For almost 200 years, it has been Bureau Veritas’ mission to shape a world of trust,” says Jacques Pommeraud, CEO, Bureau Veritas, Africa & France. “With this label, we have the ability to meet the new expectations of our society in terms of health and safety. This label will contribute to the hospitality and restaurant industry reopening with confidence. We are proud to work with Accor, at first in France and subsequently all European countries. This approach will benefit the entire industry as every company could request to be certified by Bureau Veritas.”

About Bureau Veritas

Founded in 1828, Bureau Veritas helps clients improve their performance by offering services and solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility. It has more than 78,000 employees working in 1,500+ offices and laboratories around the world.