USA | Accor has partnered with the World Monuments Fund to protect four iconic heritage sites from the 2025 World Monuments Watch.
Accor and World Monuments Fund (WMF), the leading independent organisation devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places, have announced new projects at four heritage sites selected from the 2025 World Monuments Watch.
The Watch is WMF’s biennial program that advocates for heritage places in critical need of protection, galvanising action and support for their preservation. The four projects spanning France (Chapel of the Sorbonne), Latin America (Qhapaq Ñan), Greece (Serifos Historic Mining Landscape), and India (Historic Water Systems of Bhuj) will receive support provided by Accor, helping to restore and enhance destinations for their long-term sustainable progress and resilience.
In September 2024, Accor and WMF formalised a pioneering three-year partnership seeking to shape and maximise the benefits of tourism to cultural heritage places. Bringing together their complementary expertise and global reach, the partnership aims to set new standards for how the tourism industry can play a part pin protecting cultural destinations from overuse, promoting visitation to lesser-known heritage places, and strengthening the role of heritage in local community well-being. In this context, Accor has committed to supporting multi-faceted projects focused on preserving and enhancing diverse built heritage, offering meaningful benefits to communities, and building long-term local resilience.
The World Monuments Watch, launched in 1996, is a biennial program dedicated to discovering, spotlighting, and taking action on behalf of global heritage sites. Every two years, WMF identifies 25 sites facing significant challenges, such as climate change, tourism, and conflict, and are in need of vital support. To date, WMF has contributed over USD 120 million to nearly 350 Watch sites, while the visibility of the Watch has helped inspire an additional USD 310 million in public and private support.
“Cultural heritage is at the centre of the tourism industry and a major part of why people fall in love with travel,” said Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor.
“The industry has a deep responsibility to protect, conserve and treasure important sites. Our partnership with WMF is a testament to our dedication as we continue to pioneer responsible hospitality and connect cultures with heartfelt care. Across these four projects we hope to inspire a new approach to protecting cultural heritage and I look forward to witnessing their progress and success.”
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