Accor Signs Corinthia's Verdi Hotels Into Handwritten Collection From 2026

Five Verdi hotels will join Accor's Handwritten Collection under franchise from November 2026, in a deal that plugs Corinthia Group's upscale platform into the French giant's distribution and loyalty machine. Two more properties, in Hungary and the Czech Republic, are set to follow the first wave.

The agreement, announced by Accor and Corinthia Group — the hospitality and real estate investor trading as IHI plc — covers only the Verdi brand. Corinthia itself stays out of it, entirely independent and unchanged.

That separation is the whole architecture of the deal. IHI plc launched Verdi Hotels in 2024 as a distinct management platform in the upscale segment, deliberately positioned below Corinthia's luxury tier. Now Verdi's operating platform gets what an independent boutique chain rarely can buy on its own: Accor's global distribution, marketing muscle and loyalty programmes. Accor, in turn, adds scale to a soft brand it has been building fast.

How fast is Handwritten Collection growing?

Very. Since its 2023 launch, the collection has grown to more than 50 curated hotels across 22 countries, with a pipeline of 58 more worldwide. The pitch to owners is straightforward: keep your hotel's character, keep the individuality of independent hospitality, but tap the distribution power and growth platform of a global group. Accor frames that combination as a route to long-term value for owners and investors.

Who said what?

Simon Naudi, CEO of Corinthia Group, framed the deal as a two-track strategy. "While our focus on the global growth of the Corinthia brand remains undiminished and entirely independent, the development of our second brand, Verdi, will now benefit from Accor's extensive global marketing reach and the strength of its Handwritten Collection," he said.

Paul Pisani, President of Verdi Hotels, pointed to expansion potential: "We are very much looking forward to this new relationship, which will add value to our Verdi Hotels and give us the opportunity to grow the brand in new and exciting destinations."

For Accor, Philippe Bijaoui, Chief Development Officer for Premium, Midscale & Economy brands in Europe & North Africa, called the partnership "an important step in our continued growth ambition," aimed at combining Verdi's management platform with Accor's distribution, loyalty and brand ecosystem to "create sustainable value for both parties."

Which hotels are in the first phase?

The five properties joining from November 2026:

• Verdi Gżira Promenade, Malta — on the Marsamxett Harbour waterfront along the Gżira seafront promenade, close to Malta's main business and leisure districts.
• Verdi St. George's Bay Marina, Malta — overlooking St. George's Bay in St Julian's, near dining, entertainment and commercial areas with direct access to the Mediterranean coastline.
• Verdi Dragonara, Malta — formerly the Vivaldi Hotel, set on the Dragonara headland just beyond St Julian's busiest streets.
• Verdi Tunis Beach Resort, Tunisia — on the Côtes de Carthage stretch of Mediterranean coast, combining resort facilities with access to the capital's cultural attractions.
• Verdi Santarém, Portugal — in the historic city north of Lisbon, a gateway to the Ribatejo region.

What does this change for each side?

For Verdi's owners, the deal trades franchise economics for international visibility — each hotel keeps its identity while riding Accor's booking and loyalty channels. For Accor, it's inventory added at speed: seven properties in six countries absorbed into a collection already past the 50-hotel mark, without the capital cost of ownership.

Further opportunities are being explored in additional European markets, according to the companies. With two more Verdi signings in Hungary and the Czech Republic already on the drawing board, the November 2026 cutover looks less like an endpoint and more like the first instalment of a broader European build-out.