At 90, Paul Dubrule, co-founder of Accor, remains deeply involved in hospitality education. In November 2024, he attended the opening of a new amphitheater at the École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule in Siem Reap, Cambodia. As students performed Les Champs-Élysées, Dubrule swayed along, appearing as enthusiastic as ever.
Founded 23 years ago, the school was Dubrule’s initiative to provide hospitality education to underprivileged youth in a region still recovering from the Khmer Rouge era. His vision emerged when he was mayor of Fontainebleau, France, after forming a sister-city relationship with Siem Reap. Instead of exchanging symbolic gifts, he decided to create something meaningful—a school.
Although he lost re-election two years later, Dubrule remained committed and took personal charge of the project. In a remarkable feat, he cycled 15,272 kilometers from France to Siem Reap to mark the school’s inauguration at the age of 68. His bicycle now hangs in the school’s lobby, alongside a photomosaic made of student portraits. To commemorate his journey, the school hosts an annual cycling event.
Dubrule compares running the school to building Accor, which began with the opening of a single Novotel in Lille, France, in 1967. Today, Accor is Europe’s largest hospitality group, with brands like Sofitel, Raffles, Ibis, and Mercure. Similarly, the school started with 60 students in 2002 and has since trained over 4,400 graduates in hospitality fields such as front office management, food and beverage, and pastry arts.
“It’s where French quality meets Cambodian kindness,” Dubrule says.
Although he stepped down from Accor in 1996, his global network continues to benefit students. Around 40% of graduates find jobs abroad, thanks to partnerships with international hospitality brands. “Many French hotel groups offer internships or hire students from Cambodia because of my long-standing relationships with them. Sofitel is one of them,” he says, acknowledging Maud Bailly, CEO of Sofitel.
Bailly highlights Sofitel’s role in supporting the school. “Paul has personally funded much of this institution, but we also contribute. Currently, four interns and 32 employees at Sofitel Siem Reap come from the school, and 23 former students work at Sofitel Phnom Penh.”
Under Bailly’s leadership, Sofitel has refined its brand standards, removing underperforming hotels while planning 30 new openings in the next three years. To celebrate Sofitel’s 60th anniversary, an extravagant gala was held at Kravan Temple in Angkor, attended by international guests, including Dubrule.
Reflecting on Dubrule’s impact, Bailly emphasized the importance of giving back. “In hospitality, our mission is to train, educate, and elevate. Tonight, we’re not just celebrating our brand’s anniversary but reaffirming our commitment to education.”
For Dubrule, the school remains one of his greatest achievements—a legacy built on passion, perseverance, and the belief that education transforms lives.
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