Accor x Inspired by KM
Accor and Kylian Mbappé forge alliance to empower younger generations.
Partnerships
Accor x Kylian Mbappé: Two Years of Shared Commitment to Empowering Young People
November 13, 2026
In July 2024, driven by their shared values, Accor and Kylian Mbappé, forged an alliance to empower younger generations, most notably through Inspired By KM (IBKM), a youth-focused charity founded by Kylian Mbappé.
Two years on, Accor’s Group Chairman & CEO, Sébastien Bazin, and Kylian Mbappé look back on the shared ambition that brought them together — and how joining forces continues to create opportunities for young people.
The partnership between Accor and Kylian Mbappé began with a shared ambition: to reach out to those who need support and opportunities most. It soon became clear that by joining forces, we could be even more effective together. Hospitality is a powerful enabler in that respect, offering a remarkably wide range of opportunities and careers that can open new paths for young people, no matter what their background is or where they come from.
When Shared Ambition Opens New Doors
When Accor and Kylian Mbappé came together in 2024, they did so with a shared ambition: creating more opportunities for young people.
The partnership grew naturally from that common direction and is built on strong complementarity. Accor brings its network, hospitality expertise, and ability to open doors, create exposure and connect young people with real-world environments and opportunities.
Inspired by KM brings a deep commitment to supporting young people through encouragement, guidance and experience. Together, they have formed a partnership grounded in human values, mutual trust and a shared determination to make a difference.
As Sébastien Bazin and Kylian Mbappé reflect on the past two years, one idea stands out: when shared values are matched by a willingness to act, meaningful opportunities can follow. That spirit continues to shape their work together today.
Everyone deserves an opportunity. Everyone has a talent for something, even if finding the right path is not always easy. Our ambition is to help young people discover that path. In that sense, the partnership with Accor has been especially meaningful: it has enabled us to continue doing what matters most to us — helping others and creating opportunities.
Experiences That Broaden Horizons
Over the past two years, this partnership has already led to a series of initiatives for young people around the globe.
Through the “KM Internships,” young people taking part in IBKM programs with football clubs across France have had the opportunity to discover hospitality careers through immersive experiences with ibis.
The partnership has also opened the door for young participants to access unique international opportunities, cultural discovery and encounters during several stages of the SailGP championship, including New York, Abu Dhabi and Valencia. For many, these experiences offered access to professional and international environments they might not otherwise have encountered.
The experiences create opportunities for young people to meet professionals, explore new fields and connect personal ambitions with tangible career possibilities.
Through my experiences with IBKM and Accor, I was able to discover a whole new field, from communication in sport to the many different roles that exist within it. Meeting people from different backgrounds and learning about careers I did not necessarily know at first has been incredibly enriching.
Going behind the scenes at SailGP in Valencia was incredibly valuable for me. Meeting the technical teams and discussing engineering and performance helped me broaden my view of my future career and refine what I want to do.
A New Chapter Takes Shape in Brazil
This partnership is now entering a new phase with ibis unlocked, a program launched by Accor and ibis in collaboration with Inspired By KM to support young people who are not in employment, education or training.
ibis unlocked is designed as a structured model built around a complete ecosystem: a digital tool to reconnect with young people, personalized support through local NGO partners, and concrete professional experiences in ibis hotels. The program combines WhatsApp-based learning modules focused on soft skills and confidence building, tailored guidance toward certified training, and direct exposure to hospitality through hotel visits, job shadowing, mentoring, internships and job fairs.
The launch in Brazil this October was also brought to life through a dedicated week of activities on the ground. Young people from IBKM were able to meet local beneficiaries and NGO partners, take part in workshops and mentoring sessions, and experience first-hand how ibis unlocked is being deployed. These moments gave the program a very concrete dimension and reflected the partnership’s emphasis on human connection, practical learning and international openness.
As the partnership enters its next phase, the focus remains the same: creating meaningful opportunities for young people and helping them move forward with confidence.
Explore Further
READ MORE
Our Strategic Partnerships
Discover how we work with global and local partners to drive our hospitality ecosystem forward.
Accor and Inspired By KM launch "ibis unlocked"
Accor and IBKM have co-constructed a global social mobility initiative to support young people.
