French hotel group Accor (ACCP.PA) tapped into recovering global demand for rooms and business travel with a doubling of core profit in the first half and forecast significant earnings growth for the full year. Although the economic climate was uncertain, the world’s fourth-largest hotel chain forecast earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) would rise to between 370 million and 390 million euros in 2010 from 236 million ($299 million) in 2009.

The guidance was above analyst expectations and, coupled with news Accor was ahead on plans to sell assets to cut debt and on cost savings, drove up its shares over 6 percent. Earlier this month InterContinental Hotels, the world’s biggest hotelier, was upbeat after room occupancy levels rose through the first half and room rates turned positive in July, echoing strong results from rivals Marriott (MAR.N) and Starwood (HOT.N) in the United Sates. [ID:nLDE6790MX] Accor Chief Executive Gilles Pelisson told a conference call that the hotel business trend for September was “rather good”, notably from core business clients in Europe.

“We have less visibility over the end of the year and thus remain cautious,” he added.