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Covivio and Accor unveil the Novotel Bruges Centrum hotel
Covivio and Accor are today presenting the Novotel Bruges Centrum hotel in Bruges, Belgium, which has just been repositioned and upgraded from 3 to 4 stars. The renovation illustrates Covivio's ambitions in the hotel sector through the pursuit of its asset management strategy and the greening of its hotel portfolio.
Covivio acquired the hotel in 2005 as part of the purchase of a portfolio of 128 hotels from Accor, before acquiring the business asset in 2022 with a view to creating value. Managed by WiZiU, Covivio’s hotel management platform, the hotel is operated by Accor under a franchise agreement. In line with its strategy of asset management and greening its hotel portfolio, Covivio has launched a €14m works programme to transform and reposition the hotel. At the same time, Accor has chosen the hotel as the location for the brand-new concept of its historic Novotel brand.
Novotel Bruges Centrum, welcome to the new flagship of the Novotel brand
Ideally located in the historic centre of Bruges and close to the main tourist attractions, the Novotel Brugge Centrum hotel has just undergone a complete transformation, with an upgrade from 3 to 4 stars. Following this refurbishment and repositioning, the hotel is now the Accor group’s new flagship Novotel.
Right from the entrance, the hotel lobby has been completely redesigned by the RF Studio design agency, with different areas for working, having a drink, playing and relaxing. The hotel also features the new “social hub” concept, offering food and entertainment, developed through a partnership between Accor and Paris Society.
In keeping with its CSR ambitions, Covivio has carried out this project with a view to decarbonising the building. Several actions have been implemented: recourse to the circular economy with the conservation of part of the ventilation networks, reducing the production of site waste and the consumption of new materials; electrification of all the hotel’s uses, with a complete transition to non-fossil fuels; and finally, total renovation of the hotel’s energy system (heating/cooling, domestic hot water and ventilation of the premises).
The results are already there, as CO2 emissions linked to energy consumption have been reduced by 52% after the works. They now stand at 18.5 kg eqCO₂/m² per year, 15% below the CRREM 1.5°C target of 22 kg eqCO₂/m² per year established for Belgian hotels by 2030.
A hotel in the portfolio WiZiU, Covivio’s hotel management platform
WiZiU manages hotels in France and Belgium, either under brand names or under franchises from Accor, Marriott, Hilton or IHG, and is involved in all stages of the management and operation of these establishments. To date, WiZiU has 10 hotels with a total of 1,150 rooms, located in Lille (x5), Le Touquet, Nice, Rouen and Bruges (x2).
Between now and the end of the year, 14 new hotels will be joining the platform. WiZiU’s ambition is to support the repositioning of these hotels through brand changes and a targeted investment programme. By the end of 2024, WiZiU will manage 24 hotels, with a total of 3,090 rooms and a value of around €500m.
With a portfolio of more than 300 hotels in 12 countries, representing a value of €6.4 billion at the end of June 2024, Covivio is the preferred partner of some twenty hotel operators in Europe (Accor, B&B, IHG, Marriott, NH Hotel Group, etc.). With its unique positioning as an investor, asset manager and operator, Covivio is helping to renew the hotel offer and experience, while creating value for its hotel assets.
