PARIS, May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Confident in its medium term outlook, Accor has announced a program to buy back Accor S.A. shares for a total amount of EUR500 million over 12 months. This represents approximately 5% of the total number of shares, based on the current share price. Accor already has the financial flexibility needed to carry out by 2010 its 200,000 room development plan (a total investment of EUR2.5 billion) and the external growth plan for the Services (a total investment of EUR500 million). Furthermore, the strategic commitment to refocusing on the Hotels and Services businesses, reflected by the sale of its Compass shares and 50% stake in Carlson Wagonlit Travel, will provide the Group with additional financial resources. In order to allow its shareholders to benefit from this positive outlook, while improving its balance sheet structure, Accor will launch a share buyback and cancellation program(1) under the authorization granted at the Combined Shareholders Meeting dated January 9, 2006, at a maximum price of 62 euros per share. (1)If applied in 2005, the share buyback program would have increased earnings per share for the year by 1.3%. With 168,000 people in 140 countries, Accor is the European leader and one of the world's largest groups in travel, tourism and corporate services, with two major international activities: - Hotels, with the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, Etap Hotel, Formule 1, Motel 6 and Red Roof Inns, representing more than 4,000 hotels and 470,000 rooms in 92 countries, as well such strategically related businesses as restaurants and food services (with Lenotre and other leading brands), casinos and travel agencies. - Services to corporate clients and public institutions: 21 million people in 35 countries use a broad range of services (food vouchers, people care and services, incentive, loyalty programs) engineered and managed by Accor Services. Contacts Eliane Rouyer Senior Vice President Investor Relations and Financial Communication: Phone: +33-(0)1-45-38-86-26 Anthony Pallier Investor Relations +33-(0)1-45-38-86-33 For further information about Accor, visit http://www.accor.com/ DATASOURCE: Accor CONTACT: Eliane Rouyer, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Financial Communication: Phone: +33-(0)1-45-38-86-26; Anthony Pallier, Investor Relations , Phone: +33-(0)1-45-38-86-33

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