accorhotels2017

CARROLLTON, Texas | Accor North America, one of the largest hotel chain owners and operators in North America, announced a partnership with the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC) to maintain employment positions for individuals with disabilities. Administered by the Ohio RSC, the Governor's Initiative on Jobs for People with Disabilities is a grant program that offers economic development projects that create job opportunities for people with disabilities.

“This initiative is a wonderful opportunity for all parties involved,” said Larry Daniel, Senior Vice President, Accor North America Contact Centers. “Accor will continue to employ individuals with disabilities as it has done for years. But now, as a result of the grant, everyone will have the chance to be trained on state-of-the-art equipment.”

Accor received a state grant in the amount of $49,910 to update and enhance its call center training facilities in Columbus and Springfield, Ohio. Updates for the facilities will include new video projection and audio equipment, including a document camera and multimedia sound system that will be installed in each training room. Plasma monitors will be set up to promote internal communications and video conferencing capabilities will be expanded through the installation of advanced technology equipment.

Accor’s Columbus and Springfield call centers have been hiring individuals with disabilities since its opening in 1996, and participating in the Governor’s Initiative makes it possible to provide further opportunities for qualified applicants. The Ohio call center handles approximately 3.6 million calls per year for all Accor brands including Sofitel, Novotel, Ibis, Red Roof Inn, Studio 6 and Motel 6. To date, 25 individuals work in the call centers that were referred to Accor by agencies affiliated with RSC.

“We are excited about updating our training facilities with the advanced technologies we utilize in other areas of our contact centers,” said Steve Rossin, Senior Manager of Training and Quality, Accor North America Columbus, Ohio Contact Center. “A majority of the grant funding is allocated towards updating our training facilities at both centers along with a substantial amount earmarked towards the expansion of our video conferencing capabilities.”

The RSC, Ohio’s vocational rehabilitation agency, instituted a Governor’s Initiative Program in 1994 that partners with Ohio businesses to create job opportunities for people with disabilities. In return for recruiting qualified applicants with disabilities over a three year period, businesses receive state grants to purchase equipment.

About Accor North America

Headquartered in Dallas (Carrollton), Texas, Accor North America operates more than 1,200 upscale and economy properties including nationwide economy leaders Red Roof Inn, Studio 6 and Motel 6 and the upscale Sofitel and mid-scale Novotel and Ibis hotel locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit .

About Accor Worldwide

Accor, European leader in hotels and tourism, global leader in corporate services, operates in nearly 100 countries with 160,000 employees. It offers to its individual and corporate clients nearly 40 years of expertise in its two core businesses:
  • Hotels, with the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, Red Roof Inn, Etap Hotel, Formule 1, Studio 6 and Motel 6 brands: over 4,000 hotels and 475,000 rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Lenôtre;
  • Services to corporate clients and public institutions: 21 million people in 35 countries benefit from Accor Services products – meal and food vouchers, people care, incentive and loyalty programs.

Jannie Luong
(972) 360-5970
Accor North America