Gerard PELISSON

About Gerard PELISSON

Gérard Pélisson (9 February 1932 – 6 March 2023) was a leading French hospitality executive and one of the key architects of the Accor Group. Educated at École Centrale Paris and MIT, he began his career in industry before partnering with Paul Dubrule. Together they founded Novotel in 1967, a venture that became the foundation for Accor’s creation in 1983. Accor grew into one of the world’s largest hotel groups, and Pélisson played a central role in its strategic and organizational development, serving in top leadership positions including co-chairman, co-founder and vice-chairman. His impact on the hotel industry was substantial. Alongside Dubrule, he helped introduce a more modern, system-driven approach to hospitality in France, inspired in part by American roadside and suburban hotel models. This strategy emphasized standardization, operational efficiency, and expansion near major highways and urban perimeters. It helped reshape the French hotel market and supported Accor’s rapid growth at home and abroad. Under his influence, the group built a portfolio of well-known brands and established a long-term international presence, backed by a management culture focused on service quality, disciplined execution and scalable growth. Beyond Accor, Pélisson was also deeply involved in hospitality education and the promotion of French expertise. He co-founded the Institut Paul Bocuse with chef Paul Bocuse, helping create a benchmark institution for training in hotel and restaurant management. He was widely recognized for his commitment to entrepreneurship, operational excellence and the international influence of French hospitality. As a business leader, he was known for his rigor, discretion and long-term vision, and he left a lasting legacy in the professionalization and globalization of the sector.