In 1967, Gérard Pélisson and Paul Dubrule opened a Novotel in Lesquin (Nord), on the outskirts of Lille, the very first standardized hotel model in France. It was the start of an entrepreneurial epic that was to lead to the creation of the Accor group (Novotel, Sofitel, Ibis, etc.). Born in Lyon on February 9, 1932, Gérard Pélisson, grand officer of the Legion of Honor, died on Monday March 6, surrounded by his relatives.
“The President of the Republic salutes the itinerary of a man of links, by character and by career, of a visionary who knew how to democratize the French hotel industry, confront it with the challenges of the 21e century and give it an international dimension, while taking care to cultivate and transmit this stamp of quality which is its signature »reacted the Elysée.
“Gérard Pélisson’s attachment to the defense of simple values, to his Lyon roots, to France brings us back to the essentials: the value of work, generosity, curiosity, courage, humility, entrepreneurial audacity. , the permanent quest for excellence and transmission »praised the Paul-Bocuse Institute, a great school of culinary arts and hospitality supported by the co-founder of Accor.
Constitution, with Paul Dubrule, of a world leader group
Gérard Pélisson and Paul Dubrule had started a collaboration in 1963 which was never interrupted, even after their departure from Accor in 1997. Paul Dubrule dreamed of opening a hundred Holidays Inn type hotels in France. For his part, Gérard Pélisson, a graduate of the Ecole Centrale Paris and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was an excellent financier who had proven himself at IBM. “They were extraordinarily complementaryunderlines Sébastien Bazin, CEO of Accor. Originally, Gérard was a numbers man, but he was very intuitive. He loved to travel, meet the teams and knew how to gauge a collaborator in five minutes. He was a generous man who liked to share. »
Creation of ibis in 1974, takeover of Mercure in 1975 and Sofitel in 1980, merger with Jacques Borel in 1982, launch of Formula 1 in 1985, acquisition of Motel 6 in 1990: the builders formed a world leader, whose they gave up control of capital as they grew. They had established a rotating presidency, without anyone really knowing who was supposed to be in charge. “You shouldn’t bet on a disagreement between the twotestifies Sven Boinet, former managing director of Accor, joined as chief of staff of the two founders, their tandem was not instinctive. They were very different. They weren’t friends even though they respected each other. »
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