With four Ibis hotels and three Novotels, Accor Hotel Group's Russian portfolio was previously a little uneven.

However, the recent opening of the Hotel Novotel Yekaterinburg Centre, in Yekaterinburg northwest Russia, has restored balance and harmony to the group's hotels in the country by becoming Novotel number four.

A total of US$30 million was invested in the 168-room hotel. It won't be long though before the Ibises take over once again as a 150-room Ibis hotel is planned for the city of Chelyabinsk.

The hotel is expected to open in 2012 and investment in the project is reported to be between US$15 million and US$20 million.

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