Travel loyalty subscription program Accor Plus has appointed Emilie Couton as its new chief executive officer.
She steps into the role with more than 24 years’ experience working with Accor and its subsidiary, D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions, across Europe and Asia Pacific.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Emilie as CEO at such a defining moment for Accor Plus and the travel loyalty industry. She brings a visionary, energetic and data-driven approach,
paired with a passion for hospitality and a deep respect for the people who bring it to life every day,” Accor chief loyalty & E-commerce officer Mehdi Hemici said.
“For more than 30 years, we’ve provided Accor Plus members with a subscription program that delivers unparalleled value. With Emilie’s extensive hospitality expertise and remarkable
leadership skills, we’re setting our sights on what’s next for Accor Plus and delivering even more value and unforgettable experiences to our members,” said Hemici.
Couton has spent more than two decades based in Thailand and Singapore, working in markets throughout the region. She brings a profound understanding of the industry, a keen
awareness and appreciation of cultural nuances, and a passion for innovation and growth.
Respected industry voice
Couton is also a respected industry voice and a regular speaker at travel, hospitality and technology conferences across Asia Pacific.
During her tenure at Accor, she has held several senior roles across loyalty, digital marketing, distribution and commercial B2B. Her contributions have played a key role in the group’s significant growth in Asia Pacific, where the network scaled from 250 to 1,200 hotels across 38 brands, consistently delivering above-market performance. Most recently, she served as managing director, Asia Pacific, at D-EDGE, a distribution, technology and digital marketing platform for the hotel industry.
She credits these diverse experiences as shaping her unique perspective on the travel loyalty subscription model.
“I’m genuinely thrilled to lead Accor Plus into its next phase, one where the member experience will continue to be at the absolute heart of everything we do. Our focus will be on innovating and personalising each touchpoint, exceeding expectations and creating exceptional value for our loyal members, hotels, business partners and team members,” Couton said.
“For me, Accor Plus is far more than a loyalty program. In partnership with our hotels, we create opportunities for our members to travel more, savour more, and enjoy exclusive moments that bring people together. We’re proud to showcase the breadth of our hotel brands and network, and the richness of the destinations we’re part of, their culture, cuisine and character, creating meaningful ways for our members to experience them with greater connection and ease,” Couton addded.
Couton joins Accor Plus at an exciting time. In the past year, Accor Plus celebrated a milestone of 30 years delivering an innovative travel subscription program for more than 450,000 members across the Asia Pacific region. In 2024, members enjoyed over 3.1 million hotel nights, redeemed one billion ALL Accor Reward points, and accessed more than 2,300 exclusive offers for unforgettable stays and experiences.
