Feb 23 (Reuters) - Europe's biggest hotel group Accor (ACCP.PA) on Thursday forecast higher revenue per available room (RevPAR) for 2023 as Chinese travelers are expected to return, after its annual core profit beat expectations on strong December activity.
Hotel chains were hit hard by China's strict pandemic restrictions and are now hoping for a recovery in the Asia-Pacific region, Accor's second biggest market pre-pandemic.
The group, which runs chains such as Sofitel, Pullman and Ibis, said it expected 2023 RevPAR to increase by between 5% and 9% from the previous year.
Boosted by demand for shorter trips, European hotel chains have seen bookings recover to levels comparable to those in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic grounded international flights.
It posted core profit of 675 million euros ($716.72 million) for 2022, while analysts in a Refinitiv poll had expected 640.3 million euros.