After an 18-year partnership, Swiss hotel chain, Movenpick, and Egypt-based Jolie Ville Hotels Management, have decided to go their separate ways. The long-term marketing and technical operational assistance agreement (similar to a franchise deal) is due to expire at the end of the year, and both sides have agreed not to renew the contract.
Jolie Ville currently co-manages three hotels in Egypt with the Swiss company, under the Jolie Ville Movepick name. The two properties in Sharm El Sheik and the third in Luxor will continue to operate with the joint name branding until the end of the year, after which Jolie Ville will take over sole management.
In a telling statement, Movenpick stated it will no longer enter into technical or franchise agreements, in order ”to guarantee the renowned Movenpick Hotels & Resorts Swiss values and quality standards.” The chain declined to elaborate further.
Nonetheless, president and CEO Jean Gabriel P”r”s stressed the benefits of the deal: ”The partnership was instrumental in enabling us to take our first steps in Egypt and the Middle East.”
Despite losing branding from the three properties, M”venpick senior vice president Africa Josef Kufer highlighted expansion plans in the country: ”Egypt has always been an extremely attractive market for Movenpick. Indeeed we have just signed management agreements for new deluxe cruisers on the Nile and Lake Nasser, underscoring our strategic commitment to Egypt in the future and our intention to expand further in this market.”
