Accor Denies Involvement in Child Trafficking After Report
Accor SA opened a probe following a short-seller report that questioned the group’s human rights practices, saying it denies “involvement in the alleged systemic exploitation of human or child trafficking.”
The French hotel operator is conducting an internal investigation and has hired an external firm to verify the findings, which will be made public, it said Thursday. The group will take “all appropriate measures” and could prosecute parties involved if the allegations are confirmed, Accor added.
The company’s shares plunged as much as 11% on Thursday after short-seller Grizzly Research LLC said it’s betting against the group — whose brands include Sofitel, Novotel, and Ibis — alleging some of its hotels ignored red flags strongly suggestive of child trafficking when making bookings.
Accor said it trains its employees and collaborators working under its brands to detect and combat sexual trafficking and the exploitation of children.
Accor also denied links to Jeffrey Epstein brought up in the report. Chief Executive Officer Sebastien Bazin met Jeffrey Epstein “once, over 20 years ago, in a professional context during a meeting that brought together several investors,” it said.
By Chloe Meley