Accor has teamed up with the World Monuments Fund (WMF) to support four heritage sites chosen from the 2025 World Monuments Watch. This initiative highlights cultural sites in urgent need of preservation to safeguard them.
The selected locations include the Chapel of the Sorbonne in France, Qhapaq Ñan in South America, the Serifos Historic Mining Landscape in Greece, and the Historic Water Systems of Bhuj in India.
Their three-year partnership, launched in September 2024, aims to redefine the role of tourism in protecting cultural heritage. By combining Accor’s hospitality expertise with WMF’s preservation knowledge, they hope to promote sustainable tourism, encourage visits to “hidden gem” sites, and improve community well-being.
WMF’s World Monuments Watch, established in 1996, selects 25 heritage sites every two years that face challenges like climate change and over-tourism. So far, it has raised over $430 million in funding, with $120 million directly contributed by WMF.
The Four Supported Sites
- Chapel of the Sorbonne, France – A historically significant site in Paris currently closed due to deterioration. The partnership aims to restore and reopen it as a cultural hub for students and locals.
- Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System, South America – A vast Inca-era network connecting six countries. Accor and WMF will enhance site management and encourage international cooperation to protect this heritage.
- Serifos Historic Mining Landscape, Greece – An industrial heritage site on the Cyclades islands, facing neglect and lack of recognition. The collaboration will focus on conservation planning and sustainable tourism development.
- Historic Water Systems of Bhuj, India – A 16th-century artificial reservoir crucial for Bhuj’s water supply. The initiative will restore its hydrologic systems by integrating traditional knowledge into modern management strategies.
Through these projects, Accor and WMF aim to balance tourism with cultural preservation, ensuring local communities gain skills, economic opportunities, and a more sustainable future. Accor’s leadership sees this partnership as a step towards responsible tourism and strengthening global heritage protection.
This collaboration demonstrates how the hospitality sector can contribute meaningfully to heritage conservation while providing immersive travel experiences while safeguarding tourist places. By supporting local communities in managing their cultural landmarks, the initiative enables a sustainable and inclusive approach to tourism.
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