Mercure launches “Mercure's Local Maps”: A new way to explore neighbourhoods around the world

Mercure Hotels & Resorts is introducing Mercure's Local Maps, a new digital experience curated by hotel teams around the world, designed to help guests discover the neighbourhoods surrounding Mercure hotels through recommendations from the people who know them best.

Photo credit: Accor

The initiative reflects Mercure's belief that travel is not only about where you go, but how you connect with it. Shaped by the local knowledge of hotel teams, each map invites guests to experience the rhythm of everyday life, from what is grown nearby to what is shared across local tables, streets and neighbourhood gathering places.

Research conducted by Mercure found that 86% of travellers consider the local food scene an important factor when choosing a travel destination. The same study found that 57% value experiencing new things while travelling, and 58% believe experiences are more valuable than material possessions.  Mercure's Local Maps responds to this growing appetite for meaningful discovery with recommendations from local hotel teams across more than 100 destinations worldwide. 

Accessible online and via QR codes in hotel lobbies and at key guest touchpoints, the mobile-friendly maps guide guests towards locally loved restaurants, neighbourhood markets, cultural landmarks and lesser-known places. More than a collection of curated recommendations, each map offers a personal perspective on the destination.

Mercure Heartists draw on their own routines, memories and local knowledge to guide guests beyond the expected, sharing places that hold genuine meaning within the community. 

“With Mercure's Local Maps, we are inviting guests to go beyond simply seeing a destination and instead experience the places and people that shape it,” said Daniel Fang, Global Vice President, Brand Management & Guest Experience, Mercure. “Our teams live and breathe their neighbourhoods, and this initiative allows them to share those local stories and recommendations. Whether guests are planning ahead or exploring spontaneously, these maps help transform a stay into a deeper connection with the destination.”  

Designed to inspire both planning and spontaneous exploration, the maps bring together moments of discovery, delight and care. Whether uncovering a neighbourhood institution, tasting a locally loved dish, engaging with local traditions, or discovering a farmers' market or local social enterprise, each experience is selected to reflect the character of the destination while supporting the people and places behind it.

From a scenic river cruise through Kyoto's historic Hozugawa valley to exploring the futuristic architecture of Rio's Museum of Tomorrow, the Mercure's Local Maps offer a gateway to cultural depth and local character. In Singapore, guests can trace the city's vibrant heritage through the wall murals of artist Yip Yew Chong or dive into hawker culture at Lau Pa Sat.

Along France's Côte d'Azur, the maps highlight icons like Château de Crémat - said to have inspired the Chanel logo - and the nativity circuit of Lucéram, a seasonal wonder with over 450 displays. In Kyoto, visitors can shop and snack at Kyoto Tower Sando or savour a bowl of ramen at Kyoto Ramen Koji, nestled high above the station.

Guests can explore the maps by visiting mercure.com or scan the QR codes available at participating Mercure hotels worldwide. The rollout will continue throughout 2026, with additional destinations to be added globally.