The Verdi brand joins Accor’s Handwritten Collection with five hotels in Malta, Tunisia and Portugal

Corinthia Group is bringing its upscale Verdi brand into Accor’s Handwritten Collection, with five hotels in Malta, Tunisia and Portugal from November 2026. Announced in late October in a joint statement from Accor and Corinthia, the deal takes the form of franchise agreements. Two further hotels, in Hungary and the Czech Republic, are to follow.

☰Contents

1. Five Verdi hotels join Accor from November
2. Verdi, the upscale brand launched in 2024
3. Three hotels in Malta, in Gżira and St Julian’s
4. From Carthage to Santarém, north of Lisbon
5. What is the Handwritten Collection?
6. Hungary and the Czech Republic, no date yet

Five Verdi hotels join Accor from November

Corinthia Group, the Maltese hotel group that trades under the listed company name IHI plc (International Hotel Investments), has signed franchise agreements with Accor for its Verdi brand. The first five hotels will join the Handwritten Collection from November 2026 and will benefit from the distribution, marketing and ALL loyalty programme of the French group, which has more than 5,800 properties in over 110 countries.

“We are delighted to announce this strategic relationship with Accor. While our focus on the global growth of the Corinthia brand remains intact and entirely independent, the development of our second brand, Verdi, will now benefit from Accor’s global marketing reach and the strength of its Handwritten Collection,” says Simon Naudi, Chief Executive Officer of Corinthia Group.

Verdi, the upscale brand launched in 2024

IHI plc launched Verdi Hotels in 2024 as a separate upscale management platform, independent of the luxury-positioned Corinthia brand. Verdi takes on the group’s hotels that do not fit Corinthia’s luxury standard, notably those that have left the Corinthia banner. The first name changes date from June 2024: the Hotel Verdi became the Verdi Gżira Promenade, and The Marina Hotel the Verdi St. George’s Bay Marina.

“We are very excited about this new relationship, which will bring value to our Verdi hotels and give us the opportunity to grow the brand in new and exciting destinations,” adds Paul Pisani, Chairman of Verdi Hotels.

Three hotels in Malta, in Gżira and St Julian’s

In Gżira, the Verdi Gżira Promenade stands on the seafront, facing Marsamxett Harbour and Valletta, with a sauna and a rooftop pool. In St Julian’s, the Verdi St. George’s Bay Marina opens onto St George’s Bay with direct sea access, a spa, the Bayview, Mananni and Da Marina restaurants and the Oasis bar. The same bay is also home to the Hard Rock Hotel Malta.

The third Maltese hotel, the Verdi Dragonara, is also in St Julian’s, facing Dragonara Point. As of 28 October 2026, Verdi’s official website still lists it as Vivaldi by Verdi Hotels.

From Carthage to Santarém, north of Lisbon

In Tunisia, the Verdi Tunis Beach Resort sits on the Côtes de Carthage, close to Tunis. In Portugal, the Verdi Santarém is in Santarém, north of Lisbon, gateway to the Ribatejo, the region along the Tagus. The statement gives neither the number of rooms at the five hotels nor the date each will join the collection.

What is the Handwritten Collection?

Launched by Accor in 2023, the Handwritten Collection brings together independent hotels with character, which keep their name and personality while drawing on the backing of a major group. It counts more than 50 hotels in 22 countries, with 58 more in the pipeline. Its members include the Treasure Island in Las Vegas.

“This strategic partnership with Verdi Hotels marks an important milestone in our growth ambitions. By combining Verdi Hotels’ management platform with Accor’s distribution, loyalty and brand ecosystem, we aim to unlock new opportunities, accelerate growth and create lasting value for both parties,” explains Philippe Bijaoui, Chief Development Officer for Accor’s Premium, Midscale and Economy brands in Europe and North Africa.

Hungary and the Czech Republic, no date yet

A second phase is set to bring two more hotels, in Hungary and the Czech Republic, into the collection, with no timetable fixed. The statement does not name them; according to its official website, Verdi has seven hotels and is already present in Budapest and Prague.

The Corinthia brand, for its part, continues to grow on its own, fully independently according to Simon Naudi, as shown by the Corinthia Rome and its spa set in the Bank of Italy’s former vault.