Accor SA
A French hospitality giant whose hotels span nearly every price point, Accor runs familiar names like Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, and the budget-friendly Ibis, used by travelers from business guests to backpackers. It traces its roots to 1967, when Paul Dubrule and Gérard Pélisson opened their first Novotel outside Lille and later merged it with the Sofitel chain in 1983 to form Accor. The name itself is a nod to the word "accord," a fitting gesture for a company built on a friendly agreement between two founders who remain remembered for their handshake deal.